OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to assess whether the levels and progression rates of carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) and adventitial diameter (AD) vary by menopausal stage. METHODS: Two hundred forty-nine women (aged 42-57 y; 49% premenopausal and 46% early perimenopausal) from the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation were included in the current analysis. Participants were followed up for up to 9 years (median, 3.7 y) and underwent up to five carotid scans. Linear mixed-effect models were used for the analysis. RESULTS: The overall rate of change in IMT was 0.007 mm/year. Independent of age and race, the progression rate of IMT increased substantially in the late perimenopausal stage (0.017 mm/y) compared with both the premenopausal stage (0.007 mm/y) and the early perimenopausal stage (0.005 mm/y; P ≤ 0.05). For AD, although the overall rate of change was negative (-0.009 mm/y), significant positive increases in the rate of change were observed in the late perimenopausal stage (0.024 mm/y) and the postmenopausal stage (0.018 mm/y) compared with the premenopausal stage (-0.032 mm/y; P < 0.05). In the final models, the postmenopausal stage was independently associated with higher levels of IMT and AD (P < 0.05) compared with the premenopausal stage. CONCLUSIONS: During the menopausal transition, the carotid artery undergoes adaptation that is reflected in adverse changes in IMT and AD. These changes may have an impact on the vulnerability of the vessel to disease in older women.
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to assess whether the levels and progression rates of carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) and adventitial diameter (AD) vary by menopausal stage. METHODS: Two hundred forty-nine women (aged 42-57 y; 49% premenopausal and 46% early perimenopausal) from the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation were included in the current analysis. Participants were followed up for up to 9 years (median, 3.7 y) and underwent up to five carotid scans. Linear mixed-effect models were used for the analysis. RESULTS: The overall rate of change in IMT was 0.007 mm/year. Independent of age and race, the progression rate of IMT increased substantially in the late perimenopausal stage (0.017 mm/y) compared with both the premenopausal stage (0.007 mm/y) and the early perimenopausal stage (0.005 mm/y; P ≤ 0.05). For AD, although the overall rate of change was negative (-0.009 mm/y), significant positive increases in the rate of change were observed in the late perimenopausal stage (0.024 mm/y) and the postmenopausal stage (0.018 mm/y) compared with the premenopausal stage (-0.032 mm/y; P < 0.05). In the final models, the postmenopausal stage was independently associated with higher levels of IMT and AD (P < 0.05) compared with the premenopausal stage. CONCLUSIONS: During the menopausal transition, the carotid artery undergoes adaptation that is reflected in adverse changes in IMT and AD. These changes may have an impact on the vulnerability of the vessel to disease in older women.
Authors: Karen A Matthews; Sybil L Crawford; Claudia U Chae; Susan A Everson-Rose; Mary Fran Sowers; Barbara Sternfeld; Kim Sutton-Tyrrell Journal: J Am Coll Cardiol Date: 2009-12-15 Impact factor: 24.094
Authors: Joel S Finkelstein; Sarah E Brockwell; Vinay Mehta; Gail A Greendale; MaryFran R Sowers; Bruce Ettinger; Joan C Lo; Janet M Johnston; Jane A Cauley; Michelle E Danielson; Robert M Neer Journal: J Clin Endocrinol Metab Date: 2007-12-26 Impact factor: 5.958
Authors: Cathleen M Rivera; Brandon R Grossardt; Deborah J Rhodes; Robert D Brown; Véronique L Roger; L Joseph Melton; Walter A Rocca Journal: Menopause Date: 2009 Jan-Feb Impact factor: 2.953
Authors: Samar R El Khoudary; Kelly J Shields; Imke Janssen; Carrie Hanley; Matthew J Budoff; Emma Barinas-Mitchell; Susan A Everson-Rose; Lynda H Powell; Karen A Matthews Journal: J Clin Endocrinol Metab Date: 2015-07-15 Impact factor: 5.958
Authors: Samar R El Khoudary; Xirun Chen; Alexis Nasr; Kelly Shields; Emma Barinas-Mitchell; Imke Janssen; Susan A Everson-Rose; Lynda Powell; Karen Matthews Journal: J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci Date: 2019-11-13 Impact factor: 6.053
Authors: Andrea Leigh Stewart; Emma Barinas-Mitchell; Karen A Matthews; Samar R El Khoudary; Jared W Magnani; Elizabeth A Jackson; Maria M Brooks Journal: Psychosom Med Date: 2019 Nov/Dec Impact factor: 4.312
Authors: Rebecca C Thurston; Yuefang Chang; Roland von Känel; Emma Barinas-Mitchell; J Richard Jennings; Martica H Hall; Nanette Santoro; Daniel J Buysse; Karen A Matthews Journal: Sleep Date: 2017-02-01 Impact factor: 5.849
Authors: Zubair A Khan; Imke Janssen; Joanne K Mazzarelli; Lynda H Powell; Andrius Dumasius; Susan A Everson-Rose; Emma Barinas-Mitchell; Karen Matthews; Samar R El Khoudary; Perry J Weinstock; Steven M Hollenberg Journal: Am J Cardiol Date: 2018-07-04 Impact factor: 2.778
Authors: Rebecca C Thurston; Samar R El Khoudary; Carol A Derby; Emma Barinas-Mitchell; Tené T Lewis; Candace K McClure; Karen A Matthews Journal: Stroke Date: 2014-02-27 Impact factor: 7.914