Interrelationships between Blood Pressure and Lipid Profile Characteristics among Postmenopausal Women at Naxalbari in Darjeeling, West Bengal

Objective of the present study was to find association between blood pressure and lipid profile characteristics in postmenopausal women. A cross-sectional study was done in 2015 at Naxalbari in Darjeeling district of West Bengal, India. The sample included 129 postmenopausal women aged between 40- and 55-years, representing Dhimal community. Blood pressure (systolic and diastolic) was recorded and levels of triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLC), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) were estimated. Derived lipid profile parameters were total cholesterol, non-HDL-C, Castelli Risk Index (CRI) I and II, atherogenic coefficient, and atherogenic index of plasma (AIP).Hypertension (systolic/diastolic 140/90 mmHg), hypertriglyceridemia (≥150 mg/dL), high LDL-C (≥130 mg/dL), and low HDL-C (<50 mg/dL) were diagnosed. Correlation and binomial logistic regression analyses were done to find the association between variables. Mean values of age and age at menopause were 50.34 years and 45.36 years, respectively. Prevalence of hypertension (65.89%), hypertriglyceridemia (21.71%), high LDL-C (43.41%), and low HDL-C (48.06%) were remarkable in the sample. Binomial logistic regression models after adjusting for age, showed that lipid parameters (TG, non-HDL-C, and AIP) significantly predicted hypertension. AIP was observed to be the best predictor of hypertension (Youden index = 0.52) and odds ratio showed that one unit increase in AIP had a chance of 24% rise in odds of having hypertension. Hypertensive postmenopausal women had higher mean values and prevalence of abnormal lipid profile characteristics. Age at menopause had significantly negative association with blood pressure and lipid profile parameters.