Women who reach menopause before the age of 50 have an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, according to a new research
Women who reach menopause before the age of 50 have an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, according to a new research from The University of Queensland.
“Women under 40 who experience premature menopause were nearly twice as likely to have a non-fatal cardiovascular event before the age of 60,” said senior author Professor Gita Mishra from School of Public Health.
This is compared to women who reach menopause between the ages of 50 or 51, during what is considered the standard developmental period.
Identifying women with early menopause offers a window of opportunity for their doctors to work with them to monitor and actively manage cardiovascular disease risk factors
“Women who were aged between 40 and 44 in menopause were 40 per cent more likely to suffer from a cardiovascular condition.”
Past studies have found an association between early menopause and fatal cardiovascular events.
“The relationship with non-fatal cardiovascular events was unclear until now,” she said.
“Smoking, being overweight or obese, and having lower education levels can also strengthen the link between early menopause and a woman’s risk of cardiovascular disease.”
Data from 300,000 women in 15 studies around the world was analysed using the collaborative databank, InterLACE.
“Identifying women with early menopause offers a window of opportunity for their doctors to work with them to monitor and actively manage cardiovascular disease risk factors,” said lead author Mr Dongshan Zhu, UQ School of Public Health PhD Scholar.
