The cardio-metabolic profile and bone mineral density in African and Indian postmenopausal women.
Year: 2013
Type: dissertation
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: AIMS. \nTo determine the cardio-metabolic risk profile and incidence of low bone mineral density in \nAfrican and Indian postmenopausal women attending the IALCH menopause clinic and to \ndetermine whether there is a correlation between cardio-metabolic parameters and low bone \nmineral density. \nMETHODS. \nA retrospective, descriptive study involving all Indian and African postmenopausal women, \nabove the age of 40, referred to the menopause outpatient clinic at IALCH from 01 July 2009 \nto 31 December 2010 was conducted. \nData was collected from the medi-com database using a structured questionnaire. \nCardio-metabolic data was analysed as continuous variables and summarized using means \nand standard deviations. Bone mineral density was treated as a quantitative variable and \ncorrelation analysis was used to assess relationships between the variables. This was done for \neach race group separately. The Students T-test was used to compare cardio-metabolic \nvariables between the two ethnic groups. SPSS version 18.0 was used to analyse data. \nRESULTS. \nThe records of 106 women were analysed (51 African and 55 Indian). In African and Indian \nwomen, the prevalence of hypertension was 54.9% vs 65.5%, the prevalence of diabetes was \n31.4% vs 56.4%, the prevalence of dyslipidaemia was 17.6% vs 32.7% and the prevalence of \nischaemic heart disease was 5.9% vs 14.9% respectively. The prevalence of low bone mineral \ndensity was higher in Indian women (40%) compared to African women (23.5%). The mean \nbody mass index (BMI) of African women was significantly higher than Indian women, (33 \nvs 29). There were no significant differences between African and Indian postmenopausal \nwomen regarding their lipid profile, fasting glucose, fasting insulin and thyroid profile. \nThe mean bone mineral density (BMD) in the hip and spine was lower in Indian women \ncompared to African women, however the prevalence of osteopaenia and osteoporosis, as \ndefined by T-scores, was not statistically significant. \nStatistically significant positive correlations were observed between an increasing BMI and \nBMD (p<0.001) and increases in weight and BMD (p<0.001). A statistically significant \ncorrelation were observed between serum LDL-cholesterol values and BMD (p=0.03), where \nserum LDL-cholesterol values were inversely proportional to BMD. There were no \nsignificant correlations between BMD and the remaining cardio-metabolic variables (ie blood \npressure; waist-hip ratio; clinical stigma of dyslipidaemia; clinical stigma of insulin \nresistance; cholesterol; HDL; triglycerides; fasting glucose; fasting insulin and thyroid \nfunction). \nCONCLUSIONS. \nThere is a high prevalence of cardiovascular risks and low BMD amongst the local \nmenopausal population, irrespective of ethnicity. African and Indian postmenopausal women \nhad a high prevalence of hypertension (60%), diabetes (44%), dyslipidaemia (25%) and \nobesity (54%). In African women, the incidence of low BMD was 35% in the hip, 53% in the \nneck of femur and 55% in the lumbar spine. In Indian women, the incidence of low BMD \nwas 55% in the hip, 67% in the neck of femur and 69% in the lumbar spine. BMI and weight \nshowed a positive correlation with bone mineral density. Regarding the cardio-metabolic \nvariables, an increasing LDL value was negatively correlated with bone mineral density. It \nthus is apparent that a screening lipid profile during the peri-menopausal years, coupled with \nearly and appropriate lifestyle management regarding body mass index/ weight may limit the \nburden of morbidity in later life.
Author: Jayeshnee. Moodley
Language: English
Subfield: Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W1537042434