Biomedical subjects

Philippe Lehert

Publications and source records attributed to Philippe Lehert.

22 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMedDate not supplied

Association between hormonal changes at menopause and the risk of a coronary event: a longitudinal study.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association of hormone levels at menopause, lifestyle variables, and body composition with the predicted 10-year risk of a coronary event, calculated using the PROCAM scoring system, in a population-based sample of Australian-born, middle-aged women. DESIGN: A 9-year prospective study of 438 Australian-born women, who at baseline were aged 45 to 55 years and had menstruated in the prior 3 months. Interviews, fasting blood, and physical measurements were taken annually. The risk of an acute coronary event was calculated using the PROCAM scoring system (includes: age, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, smoking, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, systolic blood pressure, family history of premature myocardial infarction, diabetes mellitus, and triglycerides). RESULTS: Retention rate after 8 years of follow-up was 88% (n = 387). In women not using hormone therapy (HT): higher than average body mass index (BMI) (P < 0.001), BMI that increased (P < 0.005), lower than average estradiol levels (P < 0.005), estradiol levels that decreased (P < 0.001), and high free testosterone levels (P < 0.05) were associated with increased risk of a coronary event. There was a trend for high exercise frequency to be associated with a decreased risk (P < 0.07). After BMI and lifestyle variables were taken into account, use of HT did not have a significant effect on risk of a coronary event. CONCLUSION: In this longitudinal observational study of middle-aged Australian-born women, high BMI, an increase in BMI, high free testosterone, low estradiol, and a decrease in estradiol levels were the main determinants of increased risk of an acute coronary event, based on the PROCAM scoring system calculation. More frequent exercise tended to lower the risk.

Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

A population-based study of depressed mood in middle-aged, Australian-born women.

OBJECTIVE: There has been controversy about the relationship between menopause and depression. This study utilizes a unique prospective population-based data set of middle-aged, Australian-born women to identify determinants of depressed mood. DESIGN: The Melbourne Women's Midlife Health Project sample consisted of 438 women aged 45 to 55 at baseline; they were followed annually for 11 years. Of this group, 314 (72%) completed the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) scale in year 11 to measure depressed mood. Variables measured at baseline and annually included negative mood (measured with Affectometer) and psychosocial, hormonal, health, and lifestyle factors. RESULTS: Women who had the highest CES-D scores were those who by year 11 were still in the menopause transition stage (had not reached final menstrual period) or had experienced surgical menopause. CES-D correlated with negative mood measured concurrently (r = 0.63) and baseline negative mood (r = 0.37). There was a significant reduction in negative mood for all menopause status groups, but those who experienced surgical menopause showed less reduction than other women. Ever-use or number of years of use of hormone therapy made no difference to CES-D outcome. CES-D was associated with baseline negative attitudes toward aging, mood, and premenstrual complaint experience and annual mood, poor self-rated health, number of bothersome symptoms, and daily hassles. CONCLUSIONS: Women most likely to have higher depressed mood in the age group 57 to 67 are those who have undergone surgical menopause or have menstruated within the last 12 months. Prior negative mood, history of premenstrual complaints, negative attitudes toward aging or menopause, poor health, and daily hassles predict depressed mood.

Australia↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Women's sexual functioning, lifestyle, mid-age, and menopause in 12 European countries.

OBJECTIVE: To assess whether there are differences between women from different European countries in lifestyles and sexual functioning, and to identify the relative impact of social, hormonal, and lifestyle factors on mid-aged women's sexual functioning. DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey of a convenience sample of 601 women aged 45 to 60 years, consulting general practitioners in 12 European countries. Women completed the Short Personal Experiences Questionnaire and questions regarding social factors, lifestyle, attitudes, well-being, stress, health, and menopause status. RESULTS: Significant differences were found in psychosocial and lifestyle variables between countries. The only domain of sexual functioning that varied between countries was frequency of sexual intercourse (P < 0.05), the highest being for the group of Latin or southern countries (France, Portugal, Italy, Spain). General linear modeling found that change of partner, existence of partner, well-being, parity, and exercise were associated with both sexual response and frequency of sexual intercourse. Menopause status and stress were significantly associated with sexual response. Country of origin and body mass index were significantly associated with frequency of sexual intercourse. Structured equation modeling found that recalled experience on each sexual domain was the most important factor influencing that domain, whereas feelings for partner and change of partner had significant effects. A similar explanatory model was found for the sexual functioning for mid-aged European women as for Australian mid-aged women. CONCLUSIONS: There are significant differences between European countries in women's reports of lifestyles, psychosocial factors, and frequency of sexual intercourse but not in other aspects of their sexual response. These findings generate hypotheses to be tested in larger studies of female sexual functioning.

Aging↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Modeling women's health during the menopausal transition: a longitudinal analysis.

OBJECTIVE: There has been controversy about the relative effects on various health outcomes of hormonal, psychosocial, and lifestyle changes during the menopausal transition. In previous studies the risk factors for one particular health endpoint have been analyzed separately. Separate analyses do not provide an overall view of the relationships between all the variables or the relative importance of different factors. Thus, the objective of this study was to provide an overall analysis of the influence of hormonal changes during the menopausal transition on a range of health outcomes while simultaneously considering all the available predictors and all the endpoints and to test the hypothesis that prior health status predicts current health status. DESIGN: This was a 9-year prospective observational study of 438 Australian-born women, who at baseline were aged 45 to 55 years and had menstruated in the prior 3 months. Interviews were conducted and fasting blood and physical measurements were performed annually. RESULTS: Main outcome measures were hormone levels, sociodemographic variables, attitudes and lifestyle variables, self-rated health and well-being, bothersome symptoms, coronary heart disease risk, bone mineral density, and sexuality. Data from 336 women, 77% of the original sample, were analyzed. Statistical modeling using structural equations showed that for all health endpoints, the prior level of that variable was the most important predictor. Declining levels of estradiol during the menopausal transition affected certain health outcomes: bone mineral density, coronary heart disease risk, vasomotor symptoms, vaginal dryness, and sexual response. Well-being is negatively affected by symptoms, hassles, and stress. Exercise has beneficial effects on hot flushes, well-being, body mass index, and coronary heart disease risk. Relationship factors and mood affect sexual response. CONCLUSIONS: This observational study provides a conceptual data-based framework for understanding changes in women's health during the natural menopausal transition.

Estradiol↗