Author(s)

Liselott Andersson, Mats Eliasson, Inger Sundström Poromaa

.

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 population-based study of women aged 25 to 50 was to assess the relationship between free androgen index (FAI) and cardiovascular risk factors in premenopausal women. Methods: A population-based survey of 396 premenopausal women with no hormonal treatment was undertaken as part of the Northern MONICA study. The study involved questionnaires, anthropometry and assays of testosterone and SHBG. Results: Increased FAI was associated with a number of cardiovascular risk factors in premenopausal women but this relationship was strongly affected 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 emphasize the need to assess cardiovascular risk factors in women with hyperandrogenism of all ages.

Free Androgen Index; Blood Pressure

Andersson, L. , Eliasson, M. and Poromaa, I. (2011) Increased free androgen index is associated with hypertension in premenopausal women. Open Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 1, 229-234. doi: 10.4236/ojog.2011.14045.