Longitudinal changes in circulating cyclic guanosine monophosphate in women over the menopause transition compared to men: the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) study.

OBJECTIVE

The menopause transition is a period of accelerated cardiovascular disease (CVD) development in women, and sex differences in CVD incidence are reduced after menopause. Higher plasma cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) levels are also associated with greater CVD risk. Thus, we examined the changes in cGMP levels associated with the menopause transition.

METHODS

We measured plasma cGMP levels in 511 women and 283 men in the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) study.

RESULTS

Over a 20-year follow-up period, women who completed the menopause transition had smaller reductions in cGMP relative to women who remained premenopausal (P < 0.05) but had similar changes compared to men (P = 0.3) after adjusting for demographic variables.

CONCLUSIONS

Plasma cGMP changes through the menopause transition may reflect the underlying mechanisms associated with greater cardiovascular disease risk.