Changes in Cardiovascular Risk Factors During the Peri- and Postmenopausal Years

It is controversial whether or not menopause accelerates women’s risk of cardiovascular disease. Some investigators have observed that the gender difference in coronary heart disease (CHD) mortality rates is largest around the time of the average age of menopause in Caucasians and to a lesser extent in African-Americans (1). Comparisons of pre- and postmenopausal women categorized into 5-year age groups show higher rates of cardiovascular disease among the postmenopausal women (2). These findings suggest that the loss of ovarian function increases women’s cardiovascular disease risk.