Objective

Arterial stiffness is a marker of cardiovascular health. Arterial stiffness and C-reactive protein (CRP) are linked to cardiovascular outcomes. Increases in both inflammation and arterial stiffness are known to occur with menopause. The association between CRP and arterial stiffness is well accepted; however, no study has determined whether there are differences in this association by menopause status and race, independent of age.

Methods

The cross-sectional association between CRP and aortic pulse wave velocity (PWV), a validated measure of central arterial stiffening, was evaluated in 307 African American and white women enrolled in an ancillary study to the Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation. Women were categorized into premenopausal or early perimenopausal (n= 185) and late perimenopausal or postmenopausal (n= 122).

Results

Natural log-transformed CRP was not associated with PWV in a linear regression model adjusted for age and cardiovascular risk factors (β= 15.9, P= 0.11). Moreover, models stratified by menopause status showed a linear relationship between CRP and PWV among late perimenopausal or postmenopausal women (β= 36.2, P= 0.049) but not for premenopausal or early perimenopausal women (β= 5.9, P= 0.61). The menopause status× log-transformed CRP and menopause status× race interactions were significant in their respective models adjusted for age and risk factors (P= 0.03 for both); however, when combined into one model, the two interactions were slightly attenuated (P= 0.063 and 0.052, respectively).

Conclusions

Menopause is strengthening the association between CRP and PWV, independent of age, and this effect seems to be stronger among African American women. This study provides a potential mechanism for the increased risk of cardiovascular disease among postmenopausal women.