title: Associations between age at menarche and menopause with cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and osteoporosis in Chinese women.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Ages at menarche and menopause are associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD), diabetes, and osteoporosis in Caucasian women, but associations remain unexplored in Chinese women.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to assess associations between age at menarche and menopause with CVD, diabetes, and osteoporosis in Chinese women.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional, population-based study was conducted in Fujian, China, from June 2011 to January 2012.
  
  
  METHODS
  Among 6242 women aged 21 to 92 years, 3304 postmenopausal women were enrolled, excluding premenopausal women (n = 2527), those with unreported ages at menarche and menopause (n = 138), those with unrecorded physical measurements (n = 203), and those with menarche age <8 years or >20 years (n = 70).
  
  
  METHODS
  An oral glucose tolerance test, a 12-lead resting electrocardiogram, and calcaneus quantitative ultrasound were performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No significant associations were found between menarche age, diabetes, and osteoporosis (both P > .05); later menarche (>18 years) was significantly associated with lower CVD risk (odds ratio = 0.71, 95% confidence interval, 0.57-0.89; P = .002). Menopause age was not associated with diabetes; higher menopause age was associated with decreasing CVD risk (P for trend = .020) and earlier menopause (≤46 years) with significantly higher osteoporosis risk (odds ratio = 1.59, 95% confidence interval, 1.07-2.36; P = .023).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In China, ages at menarche and menopause are not associated with diabetes. Later menarche and menopause are associated with decreasing CVD risk and earlier menopause with higher osteoporosis risk. Menarche and menopause history may help identify women with increased risk of developing CVD and osteoporosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Osteology, Wuyishan Municipal Hospital, Fujian Provincial Hospital, Wuyishan, 354300, China.
authors.forename: Changsheng
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Qiu
authors.forename: Hongjie
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Junping
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wen
authors.forename: Pengli
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Fenghui
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Baoying
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Peijian
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Qingfei
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Yinghua
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Huiying
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rao
authors.forename: Huibin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Jixing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.forename: Liantao
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Xueying
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Gong
authors.forename: Shushan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.forename: Meizhi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Ling
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Kaka
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Zichun
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Lixiang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Jieli
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Yufang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Bi
authors.forename: Guang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ning
authors.forename: Gang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D044466:Asian People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology / Q000209:etiology*; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008572:Menarche / Q000502:physiology*; D008593:Menopause / Q000502:physiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology / Q000209:etiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D055815:Young Adult