J Zilberman

Association Between Hypertension, Menopause, and Cognition in Women

The aim of this study was to investigate the cognitive state in women and its relation to menopause and hypertension (HTN). The authors included 1034 women aged 47.13±15.71 years. The prevalence of HTN was 47.1%, with 67.8% of patients treated and 48.6% controlled. Cognitive impairment was higher among hypertensive menopausal (mini‐Boston Naming Test: 7.4±3.1 vs 8.5±2.4, P<.001; Clock‐Drawing Test: 5.2±2 vs 5.6±1.6, P<.01). Using logistic regression adjusted by age and education level, statistical differences were found in the results from the mini‐Boston Naming Test between menopausal hypertensive vs menopausal normotensive women (odds ratio, 1.48; 95% confidence interval, 1.06–2.07; P=.021), and no difference between nonmenopausal hypertensive vs menopausal normotensive women (odds ratio, 0.89; 95% confidence interval, 0.51–1.57; P=.697). The P interaction between both groups was significant (P=.038). The possibility of alteration in cortical functions in menopausal hypertensive woman showed a relative increment of 48% (P=.021). The association between HTN and menopause increases the possibility of compromising the semantic memory by 50%.

Morphological and functional effects on cardiac tissue induced by moderate zinc deficiency during prenatal and postnatal life in male and female rats

The aim of this study was to evaluate whether moderate zinc restriction in rats throughout fetal life, lactation, and/or postweaning growth results in early changes in cardiac morphology predisposing the onset of cardiac dysfunction in adult life as well as sex-related differences in the adaptation to this nutritional injury. Female Wistar rats received low or control zinc diets from the beginning of pregnancy up to offspring weaning. After being weaned, offspring were fed either a low or control zinc diet until 81 days. Systolic blood pressure was measured. Echocardiographic and electrocardiographic examinations, morphological experiments, and apoptosis by TUNEL assay were performed in the left ventricle. In the early stages, zinc-deficient male and female offspring showed an increase in cardiomyocyte diameter, probably associated with an increase in cardiac apoptotic cells, but smaller myocyte diameters in adulthood. In adult males, this nutritional injury induced decreased contractility and dilatation of the left ventricle, not allowing the heart to compensate the higher levels of blood pressure, and hypertrophic remodeling of coronary arteries associated with increased blood pressure. Adequate zinc intake during postweaning life did not overcome blood pressure levels but reversed some of the detrimental effects of earlier zinc deficiency in cardiac morphology and function. Females were less sensitive to this deficiency, exhibiting normal levels of blood pressure and no structural or functional heart alterations in adult life. The present study demonstrates that the effects of zinc deficiency on blood pressure, cardiac morphology, and function differ between sexes, with males more predisposed to develop cardiovascular diseases in adulthood.

HEALTH PERCEPTION AMONG MENOPAUSAL WOMEN

Objective: INTRODUCTION: Commonly, people who perceive their health status as poor have a higher mortality. Nevertheless, women are used to sense a worse health, especially after the fifties, although their life expectancy is higher. AIMS: To evaluate whether a poor health perception is related to menopausal status or to the negative consequences that this status confers to cardio-metabolic risk factors or other variables. Design and method: This is an epidemiological, transversal study, carried out in Villa María (Córdoba) and Rancul (La Pampa), Argentina. 2560 women were included, 2292 in Villa María (urban), 268 in Rancul (rural).. These variables were measured: blood pressure (BP), Heart rate (HR), weight, height, waist perimeter, depression/anxiety screening by the HADS scale (pathological if equal or higher than 11); plasmatic testing: glucose, total Cholesterol, HDL-c, LDL-c, triglycerides. Also, smoking status, educational level, menopausal status, number of children, working status. Logistic regression models were adjusted via a vadwar method from potentially confounding variables of the menopausal study group. Results: Mean age was 49,4 ± 15.9. 87,5% had 1 or more children. 40,9% worked out of their houses. 22,1% had less than 5 years of education, 31,3% between 6–7 years, 33,4% between 8–12 years, and 13,2% more than 12 years. 1357 (53%) were menopausal. There are statistically significant differences between menopausal (M) and non-menopausal (NM) women (p < 0,001) in age, BP, HR, lipid profile, glycaemia and waist perimeter. We found more patients with a normal weight among NM (p < 0,001) and a higher prevalence of obesity in M (p < 0,001). We did not find differences in depression prevalence (12,2 vs 15,5; p = ns) or anxiety (20,7 vs 27,3; p = ns). Health was perceived as poorer among M (p < 0,05). We did not find a relationship between a negative health perception and metabolic syndrome, depression and anxiety, Tobacco consumption, residence I rural area and a lower educational level, however it is not related to a menopausal status. Conclusions: The negative perception of the health is not related to menopause but to psychological factors, life conditions and the presence of metabolic syndrome.