Evaluation of the Relationship between Hot Flashes and Night Sweats and Severity of Coronary Artery Disease in Postmenopausal Women

Introduction: Hot flashes (HF) and night sweats (NS) are due to vasomotor instability and could be recognized as cardiovascular risk markers. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the relationship between vasomotor instability and severity of coronary artery disease (CAD) in postmenopausal women. Materials and Methods: This observational cross sectional study, was performed in Chamran Hospital, Isfahan University of medical sciences, Isfahan, Iran from 2011-2012. In this study, women within the age range of 45-60 years with angiography documented CAD were enrolled. Participants included 25 women with hot flashes, night sweats, or both and 17 women without these symptoms, respectively. In all participants, levels of follicular stimulating hormone/luteinizing hormone (FSH/LH) were measured. The severity of CAD was calculated using Gensini score. In order to evaluate the relationship between severity of CAD and other variables, Gensini scores lower than 50 and ≥50 were considered as low and high Gensini scores, respectively. Moreover, data analysis was performed using SPSS version 15.0. Results: Our findings demonstrated that NS and HF were not associated with severity of CAD, determined by Gensini scores (P-values>0.05). However, a significant positive relationship was observed between FSH levels and severity of CAD in all participants (P=0.048). In cases in low Gensini score group, the relationship between LH and Gensini score was negative and non-significant, while Gensini score showed a positive and non-significant relationship (P-value> 0.05). Conclusion: No significant association was observed between vasomotor symptoms of menopause and the severity of CAD. In addition, elevated FSH levels could be considered as a marker of severity of CAD.