Abstract
BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevalence increases with age, particularly in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women due to declining estrogen levels increasing CVD risk. METHODS AND RESULTS: From 1248 women, 276 with CVD were screened. Clinical indicators (obesity, blood pressure, BMD, hormones) were compared between perimenopausal and postmenopausal women and across age groups (40-44, 45-49, 50-54). Postmenopausal women had significantly higher BMI, WC/HC, BFP, BFD, SBP, DBP, E2, P, PRL (p < 0.001), but lower FSH, LH, BMD T1/T2 (p < 0.001) than perimenopausal women. Significant differences in obesity indicators, BMD, and hormones existed between the 45-49 and 50-54 age groups (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This study elucidates how hormonal changes affect CVD development in women, providing a basis for early screening and intervention strategies.