Riesgo cardiovascular durante el climaterio y la menopausia en mujeres de Santa Cruz del Norte, Cuba

Abstract

Background: The study of the climacteric has risen, being a social and demographic problem due to the increase of the life expectancy of women. Aims: To identify cardiovascular risk factors during climacteric and menopause in women from North's Santa Cruz in 2011 and 2012. Methods: A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted with a universe of 317 women attended in consultation and a random sample of 186 divided in a group of 93 patients in climacteric or menopause stage and other of 93 women between 20 and 39 years old. The data were collected by survey, and for the statistical analysis a descriptive measures and inferential tests were used. Results: Climacteric patients presented significantly greater waist circumference (t=5.2696; p=0.0000), waist-hip index (t=2.2070; p=0.0298), body mass index (t=7.1652; p=0.0000), and values of cholesterol (t=4.2531; p=0.0001), triglycerides (t=2.5980; p=0.0109) and fasting glucose (t=2.5274; p=0.0132). It was observed strong and significant correlation between age and values of waist-hip index (r=0.8116; p=0.0000) and fasting glucose (r=0.8400; p=0.0000). There was a weak but significant correlation between age and waist circumference (r=0.2875; p=0.0000), body mass index (r=0.3246; p=0.0000) and cholesterol (r=0.2876; p=0.0000). There were more smokers between climacteric (p=0.0360) and both groups were similar in blood pressure, nourishing habits and physical activity. Conclusion: During the climacteric and menopause, an increase in some anthropometric and metabolic values take place, that increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases in this stage.