Vasomotor hot flushes and 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure in recently post-menopausal women

Abstract

Background. Menopausal hot flushes may be a marker for a difference in vascular function. We studied the associations between hot flushes of varying severity and ambulatory blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR). Methods. A total of 147 women with onset of menopause within the preceding 636 months reported no hot flushes (n 23) or mild (n 33), moderate (n 30), or severe (n 61). Ambulatory BP and HR were registered for 24 hours. The variables, analyzed separately for day-time and night-time, were compared among the four study groups. Results. Hot flushes failed to show any relationship to mean day- or night-time BP, nocturnal dipping of BP, or HR. However, severe night-time hot flushes were accompanied by elevations in systolic BP (4.1 ± 10.5 mmHg, P 0.061), diastolic BP (3.1 ± 6.8 mmHg, P 0.032), and heart rate (3.0 ± 7.2 beats/minute, P 0.043). Conclusion. Hot flushes are not associated with ambulatory BP or heart rate in normotensive, recently post-menopausal women, although severe night-time hot flush episodes are followed by significant elevations in BP and heart rate. The latter may be of clinical significance.