Early Menstrual Factors Are Associated with Adulthood Cardio-Metabolic Health in a Survey of Mexican Teachers

Abstract

Objectives: To evaluate whether age at menarche and time to menstrual regularity were related to cardio-metabolic risk factors in Mexican women. Methods: The study population comprised 54,921 women from the 2008-2010 wave of the Mexican Teacher's Cohort. A modified Poisson approach was used; exposures were age at menarche and time to menstrual regularity (<1 year versus ≥1 year), and outcomes were prevalent obesity, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. Results: Mean (SD) age of women was 42.1 (7.6) years, and mean (SD) menarcheal age was 12.5 (1.5) years. Compared to women with menarche age 13 years, those with menarche <9 years had a 65% (95% CI 43% to 90%); 27% (95% CI 4% to 55%); and 23% (95% CI 1% to 49%) higher prevalence of obesity, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol, respectively. For diabetes, there was a U-shaped association; compared to menarche age 13 years, those with menarche <9 years had an 89% higher prevalence of diabetes (95% CI 39% to 156%), and those with menarche ≥17 years had a 65% higher prevalence (95% CI 16% to 134%). Among women with regular cycles (n=43,113), a longer time to menstrual regularity was associated with diabetes (PR=1.11 with 95% CI 1.02 to 1.22), high blood pressure (PR= 1.11 with 95% CI 1.06 to 1.17), and high cholesterol (PR=1.09 with 95% CI 1.04 to 1.14).

Does the risk of chronic low back pain depend on age at menarche or menopause? A population-based cross-sectional and cohort study: the Trøndelag Health Study

“…49 U-shaped relationships with age at menarche have previously been found for risk of cardiovascular disease 50 and diabetes. 51 A greater risk of disease among the relatively small group of women with age at menarche ≥17 years may possibly reflect underlying metabolic disorders associated with delayed onset of puberty. 51 It is not obvious how this would influence the risk of LBP, although the risk may in general depend on lipid levels.…”

“…51 A greater risk of disease among the relatively small group of women with age at menarche ≥17 years may possibly reflect underlying metabolic disorders associated with delayed onset of puberty. 51 It is not obvious how this would influence the risk of LBP, although the risk may in general depend on lipid levels. 11 If the association between risk of LBP and age at menarche reflects effects of hormonal factors, the lack of association in this study with age at menopause or menopausal status may seem surprising.…”

Menstrual Cycle Regularity and Length Across the Reproductive Lifespan and Risk of Cardiovascular Disease

“…Unhealthy behaviors and obesity in childhood have been associated with menstrual irregularity and may affect cardiometabolic health across the life course through alterations in metabolism, fat storage, and body composition. 29,30 PCOS, which is characterized by irregular cycles and ovulatory dysfunction, hyperandrogenism, and polycystic ovarian morphology, 27,31 is the most common cause of irregular menstrual cycles. Approximately 90% of women with cycle irregularities or oligomenorrhea have clinical, laboratory, or ultrasound evidence of PCOS.…”

Association between age at menarche and body mass index, waist circumference, waist to hip ratio, and waist to height ratio in adult women

“…the risk of obesity after adolescence is twice as high as in average-or latematuring girls (Prentice & Viner, 2013). Latest research by Jansen, Stern, Peterson, Lajous, and López Ridaura (2019) also shows almost twice as high likelihood of obesity in the group of women with menarche at the age of 9 y. in comparison to women whose menarche occurred at the age of 13 y.…”