We propose to continue the long term follow up of the Healthy Women Study that began in 1983-84 as the first study of the determinants of risk factors changes among women during the peri- to postmenopause. The HWS originally sampled 541 premenopausal women in 1983-84. This study has pioneered the use of new technologies for evaluating subclinical cardiovascular disease (CVD);first, carotid intimal medial thickness (IMT) in 1994 and then the addition of coronary and aortic calcium measurements using electron beam tomography (EBT) in 1997-98 (n=363). The subclinical vascular disease measurements were repeated twice, 3 years apart (2002-3 and 2004-7). At the 1st EBT study, the women had a mean age of 62;57% of the women had 0 coronary artery calcium (CAC) and by the 3rd EBT 37% of the women with 0 CAC had developed new CAC, an estimated 6% per year. We determined that premenopausal risk factors were the primary determinant of CAC. The extent of peripheral atherosclerosis, aorta and carotid measured at the time of the 1st EBT was an important determinant of the risk of developing new CAC among women with 0 CAC score at the 1st EBT by time of 3rd EBT examination 6 years later. In this application, we plan to repeat the coronary and aortic calcium studies and carotid ultrasound and vascular stiffness. We propose to add maximal exercise testing to determine functional capacity, and to measure cognitive function, history of clinical depression, physical functioning, and sleep quality and duration. We hypothesize that a small number of women, estimated to be 25% (N=75), will continue to have 0 CAC scores at age 73, that premenopausal risk factors will remain the primary determinants of CAC, even to the age of 73. We hypothesize that (a) measures of subclinical disease in other vascular beds, i.e. carotid and aorta, will be a primary determinant of the conversion from no CAC at 1st EBT to subsequent CAC over the 4 EBT measurements;(b) pulse wave velocity will be a predictor of the development of new CAC;and (c) women who have 0 CAC will have better functional capacity, cognitive function, and better sleep, and less depression and functional loss than those who have higher CAC scores, even in the absence of clinical coronary heart disease. We suggest that risk of vascular disease and healthy aging among postmenopausal women is primarily determined by premenopausal lifestyles and risk factors.

Public Health Relevance

In the next phase of the Pittsburgh Healthy Women Study, we propose to test the hypotheses that (a) premenopausal cardiovascular risk factors are strong predictors of progression of coronary and aortic calcification and carotid intima media thickness measured 25 years later;and (b) postmenopausal women with no or low levels of subclinical atherosclerosis have concurrently better functional capacity, cognitive function, and sleep, and less depression and disability than those with higher levels.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01HL028266-26
Application #
7792215
Study Section
Cardiovascular and Sleep Epidemiology (CASE)
Program Officer
Nelson, Cheryl R
Project Start
1988-04-01
Project End
2012-03-31
Budget Start
2010-04-01
Budget End
2011-03-31
Support Year
26
Fiscal Year
2010
Total Cost
$378,750
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Pittsburgh
Department
Public Health & Prev Medicine
Type
Schools of Public Health
DUNS #
004514360
City
Pittsburgh
State
PA
Country
United States
Zip Code
15213
Lambiase, Maya J; Gabriel, Kelley Pettee; Chang, Yue-Fang et al. (2014) Utility of actiwatch sleep monitor to assess waking movement behavior in older women. Med Sci Sports Exerc 46:2301-7
Lambiase, Maya J; Gabriel, Kelley P; Kuller, Lewis H et al. (2014) Sleep and executive function in older women: the moderating effect of physical activity. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci 69:1170-6
Gabriel, Kelley Pettee; Matthews, Karen A; PĂ©rez, Adriana et al. (2013) Self-reported and accelerometer-derived physical activity levels and coronary artery calcification progression in older women: results from the Healthy Women Study. Menopause 20:152-61
Lambiase, Maya J; Gabriel, Kelley Pettee; Kuller, Lewis H et al. (2013) Temporal relationships between physical activity and sleep in older women. Med Sci Sports Exerc 45:2362-8
Barone Gibbs, Bethany; Kinzel, Laura S; Pettee Gabriel, Kelley et al. (2012) Short- and long-term eating habit modification predicts weight change in overweight, postmenopausal women: results from the WOMAN study. J Acad Nutr Diet 112:1347-1355.e2
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Thurston, Rebecca C; Kuller, Lewis H; Edmundowicz, Daniel et al. (2010) History of hot flashes and aortic calcification among postmenopausal women. Menopause 17:256-61
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Matthews, Karen A; Raikkonen, Katri; Gallo, Linda et al. (2008) Association between socioeconomic status and metabolic syndrome in women: testing the reserve capacity model. Health Psychol 27:576-83
Kuller, Lewis H; Matthews, Karen A; Edmundowicz, Daniel et al. (2008) Incident coronary artery calcium among postmenopausal women. Atherosclerosis 200:278-85

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