Prevalence and major contributing factors predicting the 10-year risk for cardiovascular disease in post-menopausal women based on the Framingham Risk Score

Abstract

Abstract Background: Framingham risk score (FRS) for cardiovascular disease (CVD) initiates preventive medication to reduce the future CVD risk. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence and the significant contributors to predict the 10-year risk for CVD amongst post-menopausal women using FRS-CVD score. Methods: This cross-sectional study was designed amongst post-menopausal women (5080 years) lacking typical angina pectoris symptoms. Age, gender, systolic blood pressure (SBP), total and high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol, smoking status, treatment for hypertension and diabetes were collected from the patients’ records. As per the FRS, risk for CVD was categorised as high (≥20%) and low/intermediate (≤19.9%). Results: Of the 50 subjects included in the study (mean age 63.8 ± 7.5 years), 30 (60%) showed low/intermediate risk and 15 (30%) showed high risk for CVD. Age (P < 0.0002) and SBP (P < 0.0001) were significantly different between the groups. No significant difference in total/HDL-cholesterol and diabetes mellitus was found between the groups. Of the 50 patients, 23 (46%) (13/15 in the high-risk group, P = 0.0002) were undergoing hypertension treatment. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that age (P = 0.0058, 95% confidence intervals [CI]: 1.0638–1.4395) and hypertension (P = 0.0007, 95% CI: 5.2369- 476.8816) were independent contributing factors for 10-year CVD high risk. Conclusion: Thirty per cent of post-menopausal women showed a 10-year CVD high risk. Age and blood pressure were significant contributing factors for high risk. As the age advances, periodic check-up of blood pressure is inevitable to reduce CVD risk.