Associations of age at menarche and age at menopause with diabetes among postmenopausal women in Chongqing, China

Abstract

Background: Existing studies on the association of age at menarche and age at natural menopause with diabetes are conflicting. Objective: To explore the associations of age at menarche and age at natural menopause with diabetes, and to estimate whether body mass index, abdominal obesity, hypertension, and dyslipidemia would influence the relationships. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 5090 postmenopausal women were included from the China Multi-Ethnic Cohort Study (CMEC) baseline in Chongqing province. Questionnaires, physical examinations, and biological samples testing were conducted. Logistic regression was used to generate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). And restricted cubic splines were performed to evaluate the pattern of association between ages at menarche and menopause with diabetes. Results: The adjusted ORs for diabetes grouped by age at menarche (<12, 12-17, >17 years) were 0.76 (95%CI: 0.42-1.40), 1.00 (reference), and 0.73 (95%CI: 0.57-0.94). Similarly, the adjusted ORs for diabetes grouped by age at menopause (<44, 44-52, >52 years) were 1.38 (95%CI: 1.04-1.82), 1.00 (reference), and 1.11 (95%CI: 0.89-1.39). No significant interaction of age at menarche and menopause with body mass index, abdominal obesity, hypertension, and dyslipidemia in odds of diabetes was observed. Conclusion: Late menarche is associated with a lower prevalence of diabetes, while early natural menopause is associated with a higher prevalence of diabetes. No significant effect modification was observed by body mass index, abdominal obesity, hypertension, or dyslipidemia.

Prevalence and risk factors associated with diabetes mellitus among middle-aged women in southern Brazil: a population-based study

“…Late menarche was associated with a lower prevalence of DM, whereas early natural menopause was associated with a higher prevalence of DM. There was no significant effect modification by BMI, abdominal obesity, hypertension, or dyslipidemia 38 …”

“…There was no significant effect modification by BMI, abdominal obesity, hypertension, or dyslipidemia. 38 Recent results from the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults study showed that each earlier year of menarche was associated with higher BMI and visceral adiposity. 39 After adjustment for BMI, earlier menarche predicted adverse glucose and lipid levels and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.…”

The association between early menarche and higher-risk cardiometabolic profile: a dose–response analysis of the Tabari cohort at enrollment phase

“…The results of a study conducted with a Chinese population showed that earlier onset of menarche by 1 year was associated with higher odds of hypertension (31). An association between early menarche and an increased prevalence of diabetes has also been reported in a systematic review (32). One of the unique features of the present study is that the associations of age at menarche with all anthropometric indices were investigated; in particular, we analyzed WHtR, which is a less age-dependent variable.…”