Comparative Study of Lipid Profile in Reproductive-Age and Postmenopausal Women

Abstract

Background: Menopause is accompanied by physiological and metabolic changes that may adversely affect lipid metabolism and cardiovascular risk.

Objective: To compare fasting serum lipid parameters and selected cardiovascular risk indicators between reproductive-age and postmenopausal women.

Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional comparative observational study was conducted at Shyam Shah Medical College and associated hospitals, Rewa, from May 2024 to September 2025. Four hundred women were studied: 200 reproductive-age women and 200 postmenopausal women. Clinical, anthropometric, and fasting biochemical parameters were assessed. Total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), and HDL-C were measured by standard enzymatic methods; LDL-C and VLDL-C were calculated using Friedewald's formula where applicable.

Results: Dyslipidemia was significantly more prevalent among postmenopausal women (66.0%) than reproductive-age women (39.0%, p<0.001). Mean TC, TG, LDL-C, and VLDL-C were higher, and HDL-C was lower, in postmenopausal women. Atherogenic ratios and moderate/high cardiovascular-risk categories were also more frequent after menopause.

Conclusion: In this study population, postmenopausal status was associated with a significantly more atherogenic lipid profile and greater cardiometabolic risk.