Can Menstrual Cycle Length Predict Cardiovascular Risk in Healthy Indian Females? A Cross-sectional Study

Abstract

Introduction: Several studies show that variations in the length of the menstrual cycle significantly affect lipid and C-Reactive Protein (CRP) parameters. There is an acute paucity of literature comparing lipid profiles and CRP in women with short and prolonged menstrual cycle length in the absence of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) and other gynaecological conditions. Aim: To determine the lipid profile and CRP levels in women with short and prolonged menstrual cycle length and compare them with women with a normal menstrual cycle length to identify women at cardiovascular risk. Materials and Methods: The association of lipid and CRP parameters with menstrual cycle length was evaluated in the present cross-sectional study involving 226 women aged 15-45 years selected from GSMCH, Patiala, Punjab, India, from May 2014 to December 2018. Based on a questionnaire about menstrual bleeding, healthy females were divided into three groups: women with short, normal, and long menstrual cycles. A menstrual cycle length of 24-38 days was considered normal. Lipid profile and CRP were analysed during the menstrual phase of the female monthly cycle in women with short, normal, and prolonged cycles, and the results were statistically analysed using one-way ANOVA. A p-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: A total of 111 (49%) of the 226 females had a normal menstrual cycle duration, whereas the remaining 38 (17%) and 77 (34%) had short and lengthy cycles, respectively. Mean levels of Total Cholesterol (TC), Triglycerides (TG), Low-Density Lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL), Very Low-Density Lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL), lipid ratio, and CRP increased in women with short and long menstrual cycles compared to women with normal menstrual cycles. This increase was significant for TC, TG, VLDL, TC/HDL, and TG/HDL ratios, while HDL was significantly lower (p<0.05). Conclusion: Women with short and long menstrual cycles have a higher risk of developing Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) in the coming years compared to women with a normal menstrual cycle length.

Keywords

• cardiovascular disease
• c-reactive proteins
• predictor
• lipid profile