A comparative study of lipid profile in pre-menopausal and post-menopausal women to assess the risk of cardiovascular diseases in a tertiary care hospital in Chengalpattu, Tamil Nadu.

Abstract

Background: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a major cause of mortality in women, with risk increasing significantly during the menopausal transition due to a decline in estrogen's cardioprotective effects. This study compared the lipid profiles of pre-menopausal and post-menopausal women to assess associated cardiovascular risks in a tertiary care setting in Tamil Nadu.

Methodology: A hospital-based comparative cross-sectional study was conducted among 100 women (50 pre-menopausal and 50 post-menopausal) at a tertiary care hospital in Chengalpattu. Fasting lipid profiles, including total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoprotein (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein (LDL-C), and very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL-C), were analyzed. Atherogenic indices (TC/HDL and LDL/HDL ratios) were calculated to stratify cardiovascular risk. Statistical analysis was performed using independent sample t-tests and Chi-square tests.

Results: Post-menopausal women exhibited significantly higher mean levels of TC (198.6 ± 42.7 mg/dL vs. 160.4 ± 35.2 mg/dL; p < 0.001), LDL-C (128.5 ± 34.6 mg/dL vs. 96.8 ± 28.4 mg/dL; p < 0.001), and TG (162.7 ± 58.9 mg/dL vs. 118.5 ± 45.3 mg/dL; p < 0.001) compared to pre-menopausal women. Conversely, HDL-C was significantly lower in the post-menopausal group (38.4 ± 7.5 mg/dL vs. 46.2 ± 8.1 mg/dL; p = 0.002). Based on the TC/HDL ratio, 40% of post-menopausal women were classified as high cardiovascular risk compared to only 10% of pre-menopausal women (p = 0.001). Age showed significant positive correlations with all pro-atherogenic lipid parameters.

Conclusion: The post-menopausal state is associated with a significantly more atherogenic lipid profile and higher cardiovascular risk compared to the pre-menopausal state. These findings highlight the clinical imperative for routine lipid screening and early intervention strategies during and after the menopausal transition to mitigate the burden of cardiovascular disease in Indian women.