In a new study, researchers found that women who experience early menopause are at higher risk for several heart conditions.
This is the largest, single study to-date of diverse heart disease risks relative to age at menopause.
The research was conducted by a team at Massachusetts General Hospital and elsewhere.
The team used the UK Biobank to examine data on more than 144,000 postmenopausal women (average age 60), including about 4,900 women who experienced menopause “naturally” (i.e., spontaneously) before age 40 and about 640 who entered menopause before age 40 after their ovaries were removed surgically.
During an average of seven years of follow-up, the researchers found: Women who had experienced premature menopause were much more likely to develop conventional heart disease risk factors, such as high blood pressure, high levels of “bad” cholesterol and Type 2 diabetes.
Women with premature menopause still had a significantly increased risk of coronary artery disease, heart failure, thickening and narrowing of the aortic valve, atrial fibrillation (an abnormal heart rhythm) and blood clots forming in the legs or lungs.
The heart disease risks were higher for women who experienced menopause due to surgery compared to natural menopause.
Some of this risk difference may be explained by differences in heart disease risk factors.
Whether or not a woman took hormones for menopausal symptoms did not change the cardiovascular risks.
Menopausal age prior to age 50 had a dose-dependent effect on cardiovascular disease risk, meaning risk continued to increase with younger menopausal ages.
Increased heart risks lasted for decades after menopause.
The study reinforces the importance of menopause history in informing a woman’s risk of future heart disease.
The team says women should make sure their physician knows their menopause history, particularly if they experienced menopause before age 40.
History of premature menopause should prompt physicians to refine the patient’s estimated future risks for heart disease and to work toward lowering their heart disease risks.
The lead author of the study is Michael Honigberg, M.D., M.P.P.
The study was presented at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions 2019.
Copyright © 2019 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
