RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: It is generally accepted that menopause significantly modifies cardiovascular risk. The effects of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) on this risk remain controversial. AIM: To study the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors (RF) in middle-aged women and their changes with aging, menopause and hormone replacement therapy (HRT). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Cardiovascular risk factors were assessed in 576 women aged 40 to 59 years in 1991-92. Five years later, 467 of these women were reassessed. RESULTS: Sedentarism (87.2%), dyslipidemias (71.5%), high blood pressure (13.5%), obesity (13.1%), smoking (12.4%) and diabetes (2.8%) were the most prevalent RF. Five years later, the prevalence of hypertension increased to 20.9%, the prevalence of obesity increased to 27.3%, smoking increased to 20.8% and diabetes to 5.9%. The prevalence of dyslipidemia did not change, although triglycerides levels rose from 125.9 +/- 56.4 to 136.8 +/- 63.5 mg/dl (p < 0.001). Sedentarism dropped to 58.8%. Menopause did not deteriorate any of these RF. The use of HRT increased during the 5 years follow-up from 3.8% to 35%. Women on HRT experienced 3% decrease in LDL-cholesterol and 9% increase in HDL-cholesterol levels. CONCLUSIONS: Middle aged women included in this cohort have a high prevalence of RF. There is a deterioration with age, but not with menopause. HRT improves the lipid profile.