In postmenopausal women, breast arterial calcification may represent a higher likelihood of cardiovascular disease.

ResumoOBJETIVO: Avaliar o hábito alimentar e nutricional de mulheres na pós-menopausa e compará-los com o perfil antropométrico, faixa etária e tempo de menopausa. MÉTODOS: No período de junho a agosto de 2011, 148 mulheres na pós-menopausa residentes no Estado de São Paulo (região Sudeste do Brasil) foram avaliadas com um questionário estruturado contendo dados socioeconômicos, clínicos, antropométricos e alimentares. Avaliou-se nível de atividade física, variáveis bioquímicas, Índice de Massa Corporal (IMC), circunferência abdominal (CA) e consumo alimentar (energia, proteínas, carboidratos e gorduras, fibra, colesterol, vitaminas A e C, minerais, cálcio e ferro) de acordo com a faixa etária e o tempo de pós-menopausa (TPM). RESULTADOS: A média de IMC foi 29,0±5,6 kg/m 2 e da CA, 95,7±12,9 cm. O consumo médio calórico diário atingiu 1.406,3±476,5 kcal. A ingestão e a adequação calórica foram significantemente mais apropriadas entre as mulheres eutróficas e com CA<88 cm. O mesmo ocorreu quanto ao consumo de proteínas (p<0,001 e p=0,006, respectivamente). Na análise por faixa etária ou TPM não houve diferenças significantes, exceto a média do consumo proteico, maior no grupo com 5 anos ou menos de menopausa (p=0,048). CONCLUSÃO: O perfil antropométrico de mulheres na pós-menopausa mostrou predominância de sobrepeso ou obesidade. O consumo alimentar apresentou-se adequado quanto às calorias e percentuais de macronutrientes, entre as eutróficas e com CA<88 cm. Abstract PURPOSE:To evaluate eating in postmenopausal women and its relation to anthropometry, age and time since menopause in São Bernardo do Campo residents. METHODS: During the period from June to August of 2011, 148 postmenopausal women residents in state of São Paulo (Southeast region of Brazil) were evaluated using a structured questionnaire containing socioeconomic, clinical, anthropometric and food data. The level of physical activity, biochemical variables, Body Mass Index (BMI), abdominal circumference (AC) and dietary intake (energy, protein, carbohydrates and fats, fiber, cholesterol, vitamins A and C, minerals, calcium and iron) were analyzed according to age and time after menopause. RESULTS: Mean BMI was 29.0±5.6 kg/m 2 and abdominal circumference was 95.7±12.9 cm. The average daily caloric consumption was 1,406.3±476.5 kcal. The calorie intake was significantly more appropriate in normal-weight women and women with AC<88 cm. The same was observed for protein intake (p<0.001 and p=0.006, respectively). No association was observed with age or duration of the postmenopausal period, except for average protein consumption that was higher in the group with five years or less of menopause (p=0.048). CONCLUSION: The anthropometry of postmenopausal women showed a predominance of overweight and obesity. Dietary intake was adequate in relation to the percentage of calories and macronutrients and calories among most normal-weight women and women with AC<88 cm.

The authors evaluated ovarian volumes by transvaginal ultrasonography at different periods after menopause. Ninety-eight postmenopausal women with an average age of 51.9 years and a one-to eight-year postmenopausal period were studied. The control group consisted of 40 women during menacme with an average age of 31.8 years, who were also submitted to transvaginal ultrasonography to evaluate ovarian volume. There was no significant difference between right and left ovarian volumes in the study groups. There was a significant decrease in measure and standard deviations of the volumes after the first year of menopause (mean volume -2.2 :t 0.9 cm 3 ) when compared to the control group (mean volume -6.3 :t 2.0 cm 3 ), followed by a slow and gradual shrinking after this phase. Decrease in ovarian volume became significant after the fourth postmenopausal year. Transvaginal ultrasonography demonstrated great importance as an investigative method of ovarian diseases in postmenopausal women.

CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE: Osteoporosis is the greatest cause of quality-of-life reductions, morbidity and mortality among postmenopausal women, with growing incidence as populations age. Clinical tools like Osteorisk provide an easyaccess and low-cost alternative method that helps physicians to reduce the need for dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), the expensive gold standard examination for diagnosing osteoporosis. The aim here was to study the accuracy of Osteorisk using heel ultrasonography for bone mineral density (BMD). DESIGN AND SETTING:Cross-sectional study, at Faculdade de Medicina do ABC. METHODS:A structured questionnaire was applied to 615 postmenopausal women, with anthropometric measurements, Osteorisk calculations and quantitative ultrasound on the heel using Sonost 2000 equipment.RESULTS: 461 women were included, with mean age 60 ± 9 years, weight 67.6 ± 12.9 kg and body mass index (BMI) 28.8 ± 5.0 kg/m 2 . Their Osteorisk classifications were: 61.0% lowrisk, 28.4% medium-risk and 10.6% high-risk. Quantitative ultrasound showed 81.3% low-risk, 10.0% medium-risk and 8.7% high-risk regarding osteoporosis. Statistically significant results were observed (p < 0.001) when Osteorisk was correlated with age, years since menopause and BMI. Correlating these same variables with quantitative ultrasound, statistically significant results were observed for age (p < 0.001), years since menopause (p < 0.001) and BMI (p < 0.006). The sensitivity, specificity, negative predictive value and positive predictive value for Osteorisk were 64%, 6.7%, 89% and 30.6%, respectively. CONCLUSION:Osteorisk is a valid tool for screening for women at low risk of osteoporosis, making it possible for these women not to have to undergo densitometry.

Discontinuation of HT by reducing the daily dose of estrogen for a period of 2 or 4 months did not differ in its effect from that of abrupt cessation with regard to vasomotor symptoms.