Publication:

Impact of premature ovarian insufficiency on cardiovascular health

Background The objectives of the study were to identify the causes of premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) and to assess the severity of menopausal symptoms as well as the impact on cardiovascular health in these patients.

Methods Authors did a cross sectional case control study with 100 cases and 100 age matched controls. Women 4months and FSH >25mIU/ml were identified with POI. Women <40years with normal cycles were the controls. Causes were identified from medical records and menopausal symptoms were categorized using menopause rating score questionnaire. Hypercholesterolemia (≥200mg/dl), hypoalbuminemia (<3.5g/dl) and high sensitive C reactive protein (HS-CRP ≥3mg/dl) were assessed as the early markers of coronary artery disease. Statistical methods included Chi square test and logistic regression analysis. P value <0.05 was considered significant.

Results 64% of the patients were between 31-40 years. 66% of them were into menopause for <5 years. The cause was idiopathic in 62%. 91% had no or minimal menopausal symptoms. Hypoalbuminemia (6 versus 1, 95% CI 1.8-2.4, OR 2.1, p=0.01) and hypercholesterolemia (75 versus 51, 95%CI 2.5-3.1, OR 2.8, p= 0.001) were significantly high in cases. HS-CRP was not found to be different between the groups (59 versus 49, OR 1.5, 95%CI 0.8-2.6, p=0.2).

Conclusions In majority with POI the cause is idiopathic and menopausal symptoms are minimal. Hypoalbuminemia and hypercholesterolemia, markers of coronary artery disease, were significantly elevated in POI. Early screening for these variables within 5 years of menopause would reduce the cardiovascular mortality in these patients.