SÍNDROME METABÓLICA E CLIMATÉRIO: estudo transversal em pacientes de um ambulatório de ginecologia

Abstract

Incidence of cardiovascular diseases increase after menopause. Current studies are not clear about the role of hormonal deficiency and the ageing as independent risk factors. Metabolic syndrome (MS) is a cluster of cardiovascular risk factors usually related to abdominal obesity and insulin resistance. MS increases general and cardiovascular mortality in 1,5 times and 2,5 times, respectively. Several diagnostic criteria for MS had been proposed. In Brazil, there are few studies concerning MS in general population and fewer correlating the MS to climacteric women. This lack of data and the importance of MS as a cardiovascular risk factor has led us to make this study. Objectives The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of MS and its components in climacteric pre- and post-menopausal women. We also evaluated the association between the onset of menopause and the MS, and the role of other risk factors for MS. To compare diagnostic criteria of MS, proposed by the National Cholesterol Education Program's Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP) and by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF). Methodology - 323 symptomatic climacteric women (40-65 years old), with intact uterus and not receiving hormonal therapy had been included in a cross-sectional study at Tarquínio Lopes Filho Hospital, São Luís - MA. Two groups were constituted: pre-menopausal climacteric women and menopausal climacteric women. All participants were evaluated for the presence of MS or not, according to both criteria. Association between menopausal status and MS was verified by a model of simple logistic regression, estimating odds ratio (OR) and its confidence interval of 95%. In a model of multiple logistic regression, adjusted OR of menopausal status relative to MS was calculated. A p-value <0,05 was considered statistically significant. Agreement between the two proposed criteria was evaluated by Cohen´s kappa index. Results - The prevalence of MS was 34.7% (NCEP) and 49.8% (IDF) in climacteric women. MS was present in 44,4% (NCEP) and 61.5% (IDF) of menopausal women in comparison to 24% (NCEP) and 37% (IDF) of those in pre-menopause. The most frequent components of MS had been: low HDL-c; hypertension; abdominal obesity; increased triglycerides and diabetes by both criteria. Multivariate analysis found that ageing was the most important risk factor for the increased prevalence of MS (p<0,001). Agreement between the two proposed diagnostic criteria was good in climacteric (k 0,66) and menopausal women (k 0,63) and moderate in premenopausal ones (k 0,55). Conclusions - The prevalence of MS in menopausal women was higher than in premenopausal ones. Menopause was not a risk factor associated with MS, when analyzed separately. Older age was associated with increased odds of MS. Agreement between diagnostic criteria was good in climacteric and menopausal women and just moderate in premenopausal ones.