Early menopause ‘may increase risk of cardiovascular disease’

A new study has indicated that women who experience an early menopause may be at a greater risk of heart disease.

Carried out by Erasmus University Medical Center in Rotterdam, the research demonstrated that women who experienced premature or early-onset menopause before age 45 had a greater risk of coronary heart disease, cardiovascular disease mortality and all-cause mortality.

Women aged between 50 and 54 years at the onset of the menopause had a decreased risk of fatal coronary heart disease compared with those younger than 50 years when their menopause commenced.

These conclusions were formed on the basis of a systematic review and meta-analysis of 32 studies, which included relevant data on 310,329 women in total.

Given that as many as ten percent of women experience natural menopause by the age of 45, these findings underline the need for additional research to determine the reasons for this connection.

The study authors wrote: "This review also highlights important gaps in the existing literature and calls for further research to reliably establish whether cardiovascular risk varies in relation to the time since onset of menopause, and the mechanisms leading early menopause to cardiovascular outcomes and mortality."

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