The effects of hormone therapy on metabolic risk factors in postmenopausal Korean women

Objective We sought to assess the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) among Korean postmenopausal women and to investigate the effect of hormone therapy status and reproductive characteristics on body composition and MetS risk factors. Study design We performed a cross-sectional study involving a cohort of 2005 postmenopausal Korean women. We defined MetS using the modified National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) criteria proposed by the American Heart Association/National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute guidelines. The criteria for abdominal obesity were adopted from the cut-offs suggested by the Korean Society for the Study of Obesity. Participants with three or more of the following conditions were classified as having MetS: waist circumference >= 85 cm; blood pressure >= 130/85 mmHg; fasting plasma triglycerides >= 150 mg/dl; high density lipoprotein cholesterol <50 mg/dl; glucose >= 100 mg/dl and/or receiving treatment for their condition. Results The prevalence of MetS was 22.1% in the study population and increased with age. After adjusting for age and related reproductive characteristics, it was found that ever-use of hormone therapy (prior or current) was associated with decreased risk of postmenopausal MetS. Among individual risk factors for MetS, current hormone therapy seemed to be associated with decreased prevalence of abdominal obesity and better glucose metabolism and prior use of hormone therapy were associated with lower risk of abdominal obesity and high blood pressure. Conclusion Postmenopausal hormone therapy is associated with decreased risk of MetS in postmenopausal Korean women.