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Publication Date

2024-5

First Advisor

Sarah Witkowski

Second Advisor

Lisa Mangiamele

Document Type

Honors Project

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts

Department

Biological Sciences

Keywords

perimenopause, physical activity, hot flash, subclinical cardiovascular disease, endothelial function, arterial stiffness

Abstract

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a leading cause of death for women in the United States and all around the world. Perimenopause is a period of transition to the final menstrual period when women experience vasomotor symptoms (i.e., hot flashes and night sweats), and increased risk for CVD. Vascular endothelial dysfunction and arterial stiffness are preclinical CVD risk factors that precede the clinical manifestation of CVD. Hot flashes (HF) are bothersome symptoms of menopause and are correlated with some subclinical CVD risk factors, but the exact relationships between HF and CVD risk remain inconclusive. Habitual physical activity (PA) influences prevention and treatment of CVD in many populations. However, the role of habitual PA to benefit vascular health in perimenopausal people remains unclear.

The aims of this project were to: 1) determine the relations between subclinical vascular CVD risk factors including endothelial function and arterial stiffness and HFs and 2) measure associations between vascular CVD risk factors and habitual PA in healthy perimenopausal people. We hypothesized that (1) endothelial function will decrease and arterial stiffness will increase with increasing HF experience and (2) endothelial function will increase, and arterial stiffness will decrease with increasing habitual PA.

Healthy perimenopausal women who were non-smoking and free from CVD risk factors were recruited. The endothelial function was measured in two ways: (1) flow-mediated dilation (FMD) and (2) plasma endothelin-1 (ET-1). Arterial stiffness was measured via (1) carotid femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV) and (2) augmentation index (AIx) and wave reflection variables (Pf, Pb, and RM). Hot flash experience was measured objectively for 24 hours using ambulatory sternal skin conductance monitoring and habitual PA activity was quantified objectively using a 7-day PA accelerometer. All statistical analyses were performed using R (version 4.2.3) and RStudio (2023.06.2+561). Pearson’s correlation and multiple regression analyses were used to evaluate the associations between dependent and outcome variables.

There were 62 perimenopausal women included in our analysis. Lower endothelial function (i.e., FMD and ET-1) and higher arterial stiffness (i.e., AIx, Pb, and RM) were significantly associated with more objective HFs. Lower arterial stiffness (i.e., AIx and RM) was associated with greater amounts of moderate-vigorous PA. Endothelial health was not correlated with PA in this study.

Hot flashes should be monitored as they may be associated with negative CVD outcomes in perimenopausal women. Performing moderate-vigorous physical activity may be worth considering in decreasing arterial stiffness in healthy women going through menopausal transition.

Rights

©2024 Tint Tha Ra Wun. Access limited to the Smith College community and other researchers while on campus. Smith College community members also may access from off-campus using a Smith College log-in. Other off-campus researchers may request a copy through Interlibrary Loan for personal use.

Language

English

Comments

v, 113 pages: illustrations, charts (some color). Includes bibliographical references (pages 82-113).

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