Dyslipidemia in menopause: mechanisms and management.

Unlabelled: Data concerning cardiovascular disease in women is rapidly expanding. It is now known that women are more likely to die from cardiovascular disease each year than men and that the incidence of cardiovascular disease in women increases dramatically in the postmenopausal years. Physicians who care for menopausal women should be able to counsel, diagnose, and treat or refer women who have modifiable risk factors for coronary artery disease. Dyslipidemia is one risk factor that can be diagnosed easily. Data from the National Cholesterol Education Program, Adult Treatment Panel III give clear guidelines for interpreting lipid abnormalities and following these women. This article provides an overview of dyslipidemia, screening recommendations, interpretation of results, and management or referral of these patients.

Target Audience: Obstetricians & Gynecologists, Family Physicians.

Learning Objectives: After completion of this article, the reader should be able to state that women are more likely to die from cardiovascular disease each year than men, recall that the incidence increases in the postmenopausal years, and explain that dyslipidemia screening and treatment is a method of prevention of adverse outcomes.