Key result
Former hormone therapy use in overweight or obese postmenopausal women was associated with larger adventitial (6.94 vs 6.79 mm) and lumen (5.44 vs 5.31 mm) carotid diameters than current use (P<0.01).
Why the study?
Does former hormone therapy use compared to current use associate with larger common carotid artery diameter in overweight or obese postmenopausal women?
Cross-Sectional (n=491)
Does former hormone therapy use compared to current use associate with larger common carotid artery diameter in overweight or obese postmenopausal women?
In overweight or obese postmenopausal women, former hormone therapy use is associated with larger carotid adventitial and lumen diameters compared to current use, suggesting carotid diameter may be a sensitive indicator of vascular health.
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
No immediate change to hormone therapy guidance; hypothesis-generating for timing effects on carotid structure.
Arterial diameter is an underutilized indicator of vascular health. We hypothesized that interadventitial and lumen diameter of the common carotid artery would be better indicators of vascular health than carotid plaque or intima media thickness (IMT). Participants were 491 overweight or obese, postmenopausal women who were former or current hormone therapy (HT) users, 52-62 years, with waist circumference >80 cm. We evaluated cross-sectional associations of cardiovascular risk factors with carotid measures, by HT status. Former HT users had a worse cardiovascular profile than current HT users: larger adventitial (6.94 mm versus 6.79 mm) and lumen diameter (5.44 mm versus 5.31 mm, both P < 0.01) independent of cardiovascular risk factors; IMT and plaque were similar. Larger diameters were best explained by former HT use, higher pulse pressure, and greater weight. Independent of potential confounders, overweight and obese postmenopausal former HT users had larger carotid diameters than current HT users. Carotid diameter should be considered in studies of HT.
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Lloyd et al. (2012) conducted a cross-sectional in Overweight or obese postmenopausal women (n=491). Former hormone therapy (HT) use vs. Current hormone therapy (HT) use was evaluated on Adventitial diameter of the common carotid artery (p=< 0.01). Former hormone therapy use in overweight or obese postmenopausal women was associated with larger adventitial (6.94 vs 6.79 mm) and lumen (5.44 vs 5.31 mm) carotid diameters than current use (P<0.01).
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