Objectives: The study aims to understand the effect of menopause on cardiovascular disease risk factors among the post menopausal women. (Natural and hysterectomy)

Methods: A cross sectional study design was devised in which data relating to demographic, reproductive, anthropometric, physiological and biochemical variables was assessed from 1014 women. The difference in the cardiovascular disease risk factors was ascertained among the participants according to menopausal status. Logistic regression (unadjusted and age adjusted) was utilized to evaluate the association of menopausal status and cardiovascular adversities.

Results: Women with natural menopause and hysterectomy had significantly increased risk for central obesity, dyslipidemia and non HDL cholesterol in both unadjusted and age adjusted models. Increased risk of hypertension and hypertrigycerademic waist was documented only among women with a history of natural menopause.

Conclusion: Postmenopausal women had an abnormal cardiometabolic risk profile as compared to premenopausal women most importantly even the younger women with hysterectomy were found to be at an equally increased risk for cardio-metabolic disorders as compared to premenopausal women. The study highlights the increasing epidemic of cardiovascular diseases following menopause. The present study serves as a model for public health policy makers, in identifying women at risk for
cardiovascular diseases.