Menopause: a critical step

One in three women die of cardiovascular complications

One in three women die of cardiovascular complications, said Dr. Simon Tabassome (CHU Saint-Antoine) at the show "Beauty & Health", which was held in Paris.

Cardiovascular diseases: an increase in women

CVD in women are, in fact, a growing phenomenon since the early 80s. "This could be due to various causes, cites Dr. Tabassome: the emergence of new risk factors (smoking, obesity, physical inactivity, high cholesterol, stress), a different treatment of the disease, different responses to treatment according sex or a combination of all three. "

However, he warns, despite the magnitude of cardiovascular disease, the available data are very partial in women for the treatment and prevention strategies for cardiovascular disease, diagnostics, differences in responses to treatments administered and prognosis of different therapeutic strategies.

According to Simon Tabassome, menopause is a critical step in the evolution of blood cholesterol and related cardiovascular disease death.

"The incidence (number of new cases per year) of coronary heart disease increases only from the age group 50-54 years, which is the average age of women at menopause. It and joined among men 65 to impact. mortality from cardiovascular disease therefore mainly affects older women, whereas due to cancer affects women at a younger age, "he says.

Regarding the lipid profile, significant increases in blood levels of total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol (the "bad" cholesterol) occur gradually after menopause, whereas HDL cholesterol (the "good" cholesterol, protector of arteries) decreases.

High blood pressure is also a problem promoting cardiovascular disease. Its prevalence (total number of cases per year) is lower in women before age 55 and then gradually increases with age, exceeding that of men in the highest age groups.

"So, Dr. Tabassome shows, compared to a systolic blood pressure (SBP) of 120 mmHg, 180 mmHg SBP multiplied by 5 in women and three in men the incidence of coronary heart disease in patients under . 65 Beyond this age, the same risk is reversed: it is multiplied by five in men and 3 in women. "

Obesity, other cardiovascular risk factor, turns out, also most common in postmenopausal women compared to her male counterpart of the same age. Its impact on blood pressure appears again higher in females, says pharmacologist.