Ismaili Jehona, Ibrahimi Pranvera, Berisha-Muharremi Venera, Karahoda Rona, Berbatovci-Ukimeraj Mimoza, Istrefi Nora, Gjikolli Bujar, Batalli Arlind, Poniku Afrim, Elezi Shpend, Henein Michael Y, Bajraktari Gani
Clinic of Rheumatology, University Clinical Centre of Kosova, Prishtina, Kosova.
Clinic of Cardiology, University Clinical Centre of Kosova, Prishtina, Kosovo.
Clin Physiol Funct Imaging. 2025 Jan;45(1):e12920. doi: 10.1111/cpf.12920.
Cardiovascular disease progresses after menopause. Conventional risk factors, particularly diabetes, for atherosclerosis are well-established predictors of phenotypic arterial disease. The aim of this study is to assess the predictors of subclinical atherosclerosis in asymptomatic non-diabetic postmenopausal women.
This prospective study included 117 consecutive postmenopausal women (mean age 59 ± 7 years) referred from the outpatient Rheumatology Clinic of the University Clinical Centre of Kosovo, recruited between September 2021 and December 2022. Clinical, biochemical, carotid ultrasound and coronary CT angiography data were analysed. Subclinical atherosclerosis was diagnosed when plaque and/or carotid intima-media thickness >1.00 mm were present.
Women who had subclinical atherosclerosis had higher erythrocyte sedimentation (p = 0.022), higher total cholesterol (p = 0.013), higher CAC score (p = 0.017), and higher prevalence of CAC > 100 HU and CAC > 400 HU (p = 0.017 and p = 0.034, respectively) compared to those without subclinical atherosclerosis. Women who had mild coronary calcification (CAC score ≥10 HU) were older (p = 0.005), in longer menopause (p = 0.005), had thicker CIMT (p = 0.008) with higher prevalence (p = 0.03) compared to those with CAC score <10 HU. Women with moderate coronary calcification (CAC score ≥100 HU) had higher triglycerides, worse CIMT (p = 0.005) with higher prevalence (p = 0.039) compared to those with CAC score <100 HU. In multivariate analysis [odds ratio 95% confidence interval], age [1.101 (1.032-1.174), p = 0.037] and cholesterol [2.020 (1.225-3.331), p = 0.006] independently predicted the presence of subclinical atherosclerosis.
In addition to the impact of age, hypercholesterolaemia is an important predictor of subclinical atherosclerosis in non-diabetic postmenopausal women.
心血管疾病在绝经后会进展。动脉粥样硬化的传统危险因素，尤其是糖尿病，是表型动脉疾病的公认预测指标。本研究的目的是评估无症状非糖尿病绝经后女性亚临床动脉粥样硬化的预测因素。
这项前瞻性研究纳入了2021年9月至2022年12月期间从科索沃大学临床中心门诊风湿病诊所转诊的117名连续绝经后女性（平均年龄59±7岁）。分析了临床、生化、颈动脉超声和冠状动脉CT血管造影数据。当存在斑块和/或颈动脉内膜中层厚度>1.00毫米时，诊断为亚临床动脉粥样硬化。
与没有亚临床动脉粥样硬化的女性相比，患有亚临床动脉粥样硬化的女性红细胞沉降率更高（p = 0.022）、总胆固醇更高（p = 0.013）、冠状动脉钙化积分（CAC）更高（p = 0.017），以及CAC>100 HU和CAC>400 HU的患病率更高（分别为p = 0.017和p = 0.034）。与CAC积分<10 HU的女性相比，患有轻度冠状动脉钙化（CAC积分≥10 HU）的女性年龄更大（p = 0.005）、绝经时间更长（p = 0.005）、颈动脉内膜中层厚度（CIMT）更厚（p = 0.008）且患病率更高（p = 0.03）。与CAC积分<100 HU的女性相比，患有中度冠状动脉钙化（CAC积分≥100 HU）的女性甘油三酯更高、CIMT更差（p = 0.005）且患病率更高（p = 0.039）。在多变量分析[比值比95%置信区间]中，年龄[1.101（1.032 - 1.174），p = 0.037]和胆固醇[2.020（1.225 - 3.331），p = 0.006]独立预测亚临床动脉粥样硬化的存在。
除年龄的影响外，高胆固醇血症是非糖尿病绝经后女性亚临床动脉粥样硬化的重要预测因素。
