The cardio-metabolic profile and bone mineral density in African and Indian postmenopausal women.

Abstract

AIMS. To determine the cardio-metabolic risk profile and incidence of low bone mineral density in African and Indian postmenopausal women attending the IALCH menopause clinic and to determine whether there is a correlation between cardio-metabolic parameters and low bone mineral density. METHODS. A retrospective, descriptive study involving all Indian and African postmenopausal women, above the age of 40, referred to the menopause outpatient clinic at IALCH from 01 July 2009 to 31 December 2010 was conducted. Data was collected from the medi-com database using a structured questionnaire. Cardio-metabolic data was analysed as continuous variables and summarized using means and standard deviations. Bone mineral density was treated as a quantitative variable and correlation analysis was used to assess relationships between the variables. This was done for each race group separately. The Students T-test was used to compare cardio-metabolic variables between the two ethnic groups. SPSS version 18.0 was used to analyse data. RESULTS. The records of 106 women were analysed (51 African and 55 Indian). In African and Indian women, the prevalence of hypertension was 54.9% vs 65.5%, the prevalence of diabetes was 31.4% vs 56.4%, the prevalence of dyslipidaemia was 17.6% vs 32.7% and the prevalence of ischaemic heart disease was 5.9% vs 14.9% respectively. The prevalence of low bone mineral density was higher in Indian women (40%) compared to African women (23.5%). The mean body mass index (BMI) of African women was significantly higher than Indian women, (33 vs 29). There were no significant differences between African and Indian postmenopausal women regarding their lipid profile, fasting glucose, fasting insulin and thyroid profile. The mean bone mineral density (BMD) in the hip and spine was lower in Indian women compared to African women, however the prevalence of osteopaenia and osteoporosis, as defined by T-scores, was not statistically significant. Statistically significant positive correlations were observed between an increasing BMI and BMD (p<0.001) and increases in weight and BMD (p<0.001). A statistically significant correlation were observed between serum LDL-cholesterol values and BMD (p=0.03), where serum LDL-cholesterol values were inversely proportional to BMD. There were no significant correlations between BMD and the remaining cardio-metabolic variables (ie blood pressure; waist-hip ratio; clinical stigma of dyslipidaemia; clinical stigma of insulin resistance; cholesterol; HDL; triglycerides; fasting glucose; fasting insulin and thyroid function). CONCLUSIONS. There is a high prevalence of cardiovascular risks and low BMD amongst the local menopausal population, irrespective of ethnicity. African and Indian postmenopausal women had a high prevalence of hypertension (60%), diabetes (44%), dyslipidaemia (25%) and obesity (54%). In African women, the incidence of low BMD was 35% in the hip, 53% in the neck of femur and 55% in the lumbar spine. In Indian women, the incidence of low BMD was 55% in the hip, 67% in the neck of femur and 69% in the lumbar spine. BMI and weight showed a positive correlation with bone mineral density. Regarding the cardio-metabolic variables, an increasing LDL value was negatively correlated with bone mineral density. It thus is apparent that a screening lipid profile during the peri-menopausal years, coupled with early and appropriate lifestyle management regarding body mass index/ weight may limit the burden of morbidity in later life.