Oestradiol: any role in cardiovascular risk factors in female centenarians of Hainan?

BACKGROUND: Previous studies reported that low level of oestradiol (E2) was associated with higher risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, little study examined the relationship between E2 and CVD in longevous women, which were deficient in serum E2 for the post-menopausal status. Therefore, this study aims to explore the association between E2 and CVD risk factors in a group of female centenarians of Hainan, China. METHODS: A total of 413 female centenarians (aged from 100 to 115) from China Hainan Centenarian Cohort Study (CHCCS) were enrolled in this study. Home interviews were conducted to collected data on demographic characteristics, health-related lifestyles, and anthropometrics. The level of serum E2 was assessed in the Clinical Laboratory of Hainan branch of PLA General Hospital. The variables of CVD risk factors, including blood pressures, lipids and blood glucose, were measured through standard procedures. RESULTS: Significant negative correlations between levels of serum E2 and TC, HDL-C, and LDL-C were observed in this study. Compared with the highest group of E2, the odds ratio and 95% confidence intervals of high LDL-C in groups 3, 2 and 1 were OR1.94 (CI0.82-4.62), OR3.61 (CI1.27-10.25) and OR9.29 (CI2.08-41.53), respectively. Similarly, the prevalence of hypertension was decreased with the increase of serum E2. The odds ratio and 95% confidence intervals of stage-2 hypertension in groups 3, 2 and 1 versus highest E2 group were OR1.34 (CI0.49-3.72), OR1.36 (CI0.47-3.99) and OR1.38 (CI0.45-4.20), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: This study examined the relationship between E2 and CVD risk factors in a group of community-based female centenarians. A negative correlations between serum E2 levels and CVD risk factors, i.e. high level of LDL-C, TC, and hypertension were observed in this population. Besides, the level of serum E2 is also negatively correlated with HDL-C. Further studies on the correlation between serum E2 and CVD risk factors, especially dyslipidemia, in longevous and post-menopausal women are warranted.