Vasomotor hot flushes and 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure in recently post-menopausal women

Abstract

Background. Menopausal hot flushes may be a marker for a difference in vascular function. We studied the associations between hot flushes of varying severity and ambulatory blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR).

Methods. A total of 147 women with onset of menopause within the preceding 6–36 months reported no hot flushes (n = 23) or mild (n = 33), moderate (n = 30), or severe (n = 61). Ambulatory BP and HR were registered for 24 hours. The variables, analyzed separately for day-time and night-time, were compared among the four study groups.

Results. Hot flushes failed to show any relationship to mean day- or night-time BP, nocturnal dipping of BP, or HR. However, severe night-time hot flushes were accompanied by elevations in systolic BP (4.1 ± 10.5 mmHg, P = 0.061), diastolic BP (3.1 ± 6.8 mmHg, P = 0.032), and heart rate (3.0 ± 7.2 beats/minute, P = 0.043).

Conclusion. Hot flushes are not associated with ambulatory BP or heart rate in normotensive, recently post-menopausal women, although severe night-time hot flush episodes are followed by significant elevations in BP and heart rate. The latter may be of clinical significance.

Key words::

• Ambulatory blood pressure
• cardiovascular risk
• heart rate
• menopause
• vasomotor symptoms

Declaration of interest: This study was supported by unrestricted grants from the Päivikki and Sakari Sohlberg Foundation, the Emil Aaltonen Foundation, the Finnish Medical Foundation, and the Helsinki University Central Hospital Research Fund.