Background and Objective:
Few studies have focused on the epidemiology of perimenopausal
syndrome, and its prevalence in African women is concerningly high. This study investigated
selected biochemical parameters, hormonal changes, and possible metabolic syndrome
(MetS) in perimenopausal and premenopausal women among Igbo women in Enugu, Southeast of
Nigeria.
Methods:
This study was conducted between March 2018 and November 2018. A total of 200 apparently
healthy women, comprising 120 perimenopausal women (mean age 50 years) and 80
premenopausal women (mean age 35 years), living in Enugu, were randomly recruited for this
study. Anthropometric indices (blood pressure, waist circumference, weight, and height) of these
women were measured. Fasting blood samples were collected and used for measurement of luteinizing
hormone (LH), estradiol (E2), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), fasting plasma glucose
(FPG), and lipid profile using standard methods. MetS in the perimenopausal and premenopausal
women was observed using three different criteria: the National Cholesterol Education Program-
Adult Treatment Panel 111 (NCEP-ATP 111), the World Health Organization (WHO), and International
Diabetes Federation (IDF). Student’s t-test and Chi-square were used to compare continuous
and categorical variables.
Results:
There were significantly (p<0.05) higher values of blood pressure (systolic and diastolic),
FPG, waist circumference, LH, FSH, total cholesterol, and LDL-C, but significantly (p<0.05) lower
values of estradiol in perimenopausal women as compared to premenopausal women. The incidence
of MetS was higher in perimenopausal women as compared to premenopausal women in all the
three criteria studied.
Interpretation and Conclusion:
Perimenopausal women have a higher risk for the development of
metabolic syndrome-associated diseases than premenopausal women.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.