The purpose of this study was to figure out the correlation of hypertension and atherogenic dyslipidemia in postmenopausal women.

The study population consisted of consecutive 380 postmenopausal women (age≥50, FSH>40IU/L and triglyceride[TG]<400 mg/dl) visiting health promotion center at Samsung Cheil Hospital from March 1997 to July 1998. We measured blood pressure by automatic sphygmomanometer (A & Dco.LTD.TM-2654) and divided them into four groups by blood pressure (Group I; systolic blood pressure[SBP]<120 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure[DBP]<80 mmHg, n=87. Group II; SBP 120-139 mmHg or DBP 80-89 mmHg, n=109. Group III; SBP 140-159 mmHg or DBP 90-99 mmHg, n=127. Group IV; SBP≥160 mmHg or DBP≥100 mmHg, n=57). We measured thier body mass index (BMI) and waist-hip ratio (WHR). We also measured their levels of glucose, total cholesterol and TG by automatic biochemical analyzer (Hitachi 7150) and HDL cholesterol by direct method using Auto DAIICHI reagent. We calculated LDL cholesterol levels by Friedewald formula.

BMI, WHR and glucose level of group IV were significantly higher than those of group I. But there were no significant differences among the groups in the levels of total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and apolipoprotein B. HDL cholesterol level of group I was statistically higher than that of group IV. TG level and LDL cholesterol/apo B ratio of group IV were significantly higher and lower than those of other groups respectively.

Postmenopausal women who had moderate or severe hypertension show the trend toward abdominal obesity and atherogenic dyslipidemia. We might have to pay attention to these metabolic abnormalities in postmenopausal women with hypertension.