Low sexual function scores tied to arterial stiffness in postmenopausal women

Lower scores of sexual function in postmenopausal women are predictive of weakened vascular function, as manifested by arterial stiffening, which then contributes to systolic blood pressure (SBP) changes, according to a recent study.

Some 116 postmenopausal women, who underwent assessment of endothelial function with measurement of flow-mediated dilation (FMD) of the brachial artery and arterial stiffness estimation with measurement of the carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV), were included in this cross-sectional study.

The authors assessed vasomotor symptomatology using the Greene Climacteric Scale, evaluated FSD using the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), and examined mood disorder using the Beck Depression Inventory. Low sexual function was defined as an FSFI score <26.55.

Sexual functions scores correlated with measures of blood pressure (normal vs low sexual function; SBP: 120.2 vs 113.4 mm Hg; analysis of covariance: p=0.026; diastolic blood pressure [DBP]: 75.9 vs 70.3 mm Hg; analysis of covariance: p=0.012; both adjusted for age, body mass index (BMI), current smoking, and PWV). SBP, but not DBP, correlated with FSFI (B, 0.249; p=0.041) and PWV (B, 0.392; p<0.001).

PWV measures showed an association with FSFI (B, ‒0.291; p=0.047) and pulse pressure (B, 0.355; p=0.017), while FMD correlated with FSFI (B, 0.427; p=0.033). All models were adjusted for age, BMI, current smoking, insulin resistance, vasomotor symptomatology, and Beck Depression Inventory.

“Longitudinal studies and interventions to improve FSD should further assess the clinical relevance of these findings,” the authors said.