Cardiovascular risk factors in menopausal women and the intima-media thickness

The aim of this study was analysis of the relationship between cardiovascular risk factors and intima-media thickness (I-M) at menopause. 27 women aged 53.4±3.7 years with hypertension were examined by means of the Doppler examination of carotid arteries. The Holter method was used to measure 24-hour arterial blood pressure. C-reactive protein (CRP) was determined. A correlation was found between I-M and the percentage of abnormal diastolic pressure values (r=0.423, p<0.05). CRP correlated with the I-M (r=0.50, p<0.05). The measurements of the intima- media complex should be regarded as a diagnostic factor in patients with subclinical atherosclerosis.