Blood pressure in middle-aged women: are androgens involved? A population-based study of Swedish women: the Women's Health in the Lund Area study

Objective To assess the prevalence of hypertension and use of antihypertensive drug therapy in relation to menopausal status and to delineate perceived associations between androgens and blood pressure in perimenopausal women. Methods A population- based sample of women aged 50 - 59 ( nU6893). Women were divided into three groups according to their hormonal status: premenopausal, postmenopausal without hormone therapy, and postmenopausal with hormone therapy. Result In the premenopausal, postmenopausal without hormone therapy, and postmenopausal with hormone therapy groups, the prevalence of high blood pressure (>= - 140mmHg systolic or >= 90mmHg diastolic) was 43.9, 49.9 and 45.8%, respectively. In women with normal blood pressure, adjusting for age, body mass index and smoking, there were negative associations between serum testosterone and systolic blood pressure in the total sample ( P< 0.01) and the postmenopausal without hormone therapy group ( P< 0.05). In women using antihypertensive drug therapy with a blood pressure of at least 140/ 90mmHg, positive associations were found between serum testosterone and systolic blood pressure in the total series ( P< 0.05) and in the postmenopausal without hormone therapy group ( P< 0.05). Conclusion Abnormal blood pressure is common in middle- aged women regardless of hormonal status. Our findings suggest that testosterone could have a dual influence on blood pressure in perimenopausal women.