TUESDAY, March 26 (HealthDay News) -- For Chinese women, the age of menarche and menopause is not related to the risk of diabetes, but does correlate with cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis, according to a study published online March 7 in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.
Changsheng Qiu, from the Fujian Provincial Hospital in Wuyishan, China, and colleagues conducted a cross-sectional, population-based study to examine the correlation between age at menarche and menopause with cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and osteoporosis in a cohort of 3,304 post-menopausal Chinese women.
The researchers found that there were no significant correlations for menarche age, diabetes, and osteoporosis. However, later menarche (older than 18 years) correlated significantly with lower risk of cardiovascular disease (odds ratio (OR), 0.71). Age at menopause was not related to diabetes, but higher age at menopause correlated with a decreasing risk of cardiovascular disease. Earlier menopause (at or before 46 years) was linked to a significantly increased risk of osteoporosis (OR, 1.59).
"Ascertaining a history of menarche and menopause may help to identify women predisposed to increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis," the authors write.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
