Cardiometabolic Risk Factors and Endogenous Sex Hormones in Postmenopausal Women: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Context: It is uncertain which cardiovascular risk factors are associated with sex hormone levels in postmenopausal women. Objective: This work aimed to investigate the association between cardiometabolic risk factors and sex hormones in a cross-sectional, observational population study. Methods: In this Swedish population study, participants were physically examined from 2002 to 2004, and endogenous sex hormones were analyzed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Women aged 55 years or older with estradiol levels below 20 pg/mL and not using any hormonal therapy were eligible for inclusion in the study (N = 146). Variable selection and bootstrap stability analyses were performed and linear regression models presented, with each of the 8 hormones as outcome variables. Results: Body mass index (BMI) was positively associated with estradiol (β = 0.054, P