title: Association between Age at Menarche and Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors in China: A Large Population-Based Investigation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The association between age at menarche (AAM) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) has previously been investigated with controversial results. The relationship between the psychological characteristic of AAM and many cardiovascular risk factors remains unclear.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the association between AAM and CVD risk factors in a large population.
  
  
  METHODS
  13,242 women aged 24-79 years were recruited from China mainland during 2009-2013 for a cross-sectional, population-based study to investigate the association between AAM and CVD risk factors. Information on AAM was obtained from self-report and information on CVD risk factors from physical examination.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In age-, body-mass-index- and height-adjusted analyses, AAM was positively associated with hypertension and 'college or above' educational level and incident CVD events. The adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% conﬁdence intervals for hypertension across AAM categories (≤12, 13-14, 15-16, and ≥17 years) were 0.820 (0.70-0.96), 0.82 (0.70-0.96), 0.88 (0.79-0.99) and 1 (referent), respectively; adjusted ORs for high educational level ('college or above') were 0.29 (0.24-0.34), 0.60 (0.41-0.51), 0.69 (0.62-0.76), and 1 (referent), respectively; adjusted ORs for incident CVD events were 0.18 (0.08-0.41), 0.18 (0.08-0.41), 0.62 (0.41-0.93), 1 (referent), respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Earlier AAM were positively associated with incident CVD events, hypertension and 'college or above' educational level.
authors.affiliation: Health Management Institute, Beijing China.
authors.forename: Yansong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.affiliation: Central Hospital of Xiaogan Health Examination, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Xiaogan, China.
authors.forename: Guilan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Health Management Institute, Beijing China.
authors.forename: Zhilai
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Health Management Institute, Beijing China; Department of Geriatric Cardiology, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing China.
authors.forename: Qiang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zeng
keywords: Age at menarche; Cardiovascular disease; Large population; Risk factors