Factors associated with total cholesterol levels in women around menopause attending menopause clinics in Italy

Objective To obtain data on correlates of total cholesterol (TC) levels in women around menopause attending menopause clinics in Italy. Methods Since 1997, a large cross-sectional study has been conducted concerning the characteristics of women around the time of the menopause attending a network of first-level menopause out-patient clinics in Italy for general counselling about the menopause or treatment of menopausal symptoms. Women observed consecutively at the participating centers were eligible for the study. Up to March 2000, TC was measured in 23 018 cases, which are considered in this analysis. Results The adjusted mean level of TC rose with age, from 216 mg dl in women aged 57 years. Mean TC increased with body mass index (BMI, kg m2), being 224 mg dl in women with BMI 26. Considering menopausal status, the crude mean TC level was 216 mg dl in premenopausal women, 227 mg dl in women reporting a surgical menopause and 229 mg dl in women reporting a natural menopause. These differences were still present when the analysis took into account the effect of age and other potential covariates, the adjusted values being 221, 225 and 227, respectively. Similar findings emerged when we considered the distribution of study subjects according to selected levels of TC (