Increased free androgen index is associated with hypertension in premenopausal women

• Objective: Increased testosterone and decreased sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) are associated with a number of adverse cardiovascular risk factors in postmenopausal women. The aim of this popula-tion-based study of women aged 25 to 50 was to as-sess the relationship between free androgen index (FAI) and cardiovascular risk factors in premeno-pausal women.Methods: A population-based survey of 396 premenopausal women with no hormonal trea- tment was undertaken as part of the Northern Swe-den MONICA study. The study involved question-naires, anthropometry and assays of testosterone and SHBG.Results: Increased FAI was associated with a number of cardiovascular risk factors in premeno-pausal women but this relationship was strongly af-fected by body mass index (BMI). After adjustment for age and BMI, FAI was significantly associated with increased systolic and diastolic blood pressures.Conclusion: Hyperandrogenism is associated with increased blood pressure and these findings empha-size the need to assess cardiovascular risk factors in women with hyperandrogenism of all ages.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Allmänmedicin (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- General Practice (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Free Androgen Index

Blood Pressure

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)