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Duration of reproductive lifespan and age at menarche in relation to metabolic syndrome in postmenopausal Chinese women
Author(s) -
Cao Xia,
Zhou Jiansong,
Yuan Hong,
Chen Zhiheng
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
journal of obstetrics and gynaecology research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.597
H-Index - 50
eISSN - 1447-0756
pISSN - 1341-8076
DOI - 10.1111/jog.13093
Subject(s) - medicine , menarche , odds ratio , metabolic syndrome , confidence interval , waist , menopause , menstruation , confounding , logistic regression , demography , gynecology , body mass index , obesity , sociology
Aim This study aimed to assess the associations between menstrual characteristics and the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease. Methods A cross‐sectional study was conducted with a sample of 1625 postmenopausal women in China. Subjects were classified into three groups according to the tertiles of some variables related to the reproductive life. We assessed associations in multivariable‐adjusted analyses, using logistic regressions. Results After adjustments for confounding factors, the odds ratios (OR) for predicting the presence of MetS increased gradually: as the years of menstruation increased (18–34 years vs 35–37 years vs 38–46 years: OR [95% confidence interval (CI)] = 1 vs 1.231 [0.942–1.610] vs 1.309 [0.985–1.740], respectively); as age at menopause increased (31–48 years vs 49–51 years vs 52–59 years: OR [95%CI] = 1 vs 1.115 [0.846–1.469] vs 1.315 [0.986–1.753], respectively); and as age at menarche decrease (11–13 years vs 14–15 years vs 16–20 years: OR [95%CI] = 1 vs 0.950 [0.728–1.240] vs 0.862 [0.610–1.119], respectively). Among the components of MetS, the highest tertile of years of menstruation was significantly associated with elevated waist circumference (OR =1.401 [95%CI = 1.092–1.798]), and elevated triglyceride (OR =1.220 [95%CI = 0.934–1.593]). Nevertheless, the association between these reproductive factors and non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease was not significant. Conclusion Longer duration of menstruation and earlier age at menarche were significantly associated with a higher risk of central obesity and MetS in postmenopausal Chinese women.