title: Duration of reproductive lifespan and age at menarche in relation to metabolic syndrome in postmenopausal Chinese women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  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.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Management Center, Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan Province, China.
authors.forename: Xia
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.affiliation: Department of Mental Health Institute, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan Province, China.
authors.forename: Jiansong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Pharmacology Center, Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan Province, China.
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Management Center, Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan Province, China. cx_csu@163.com.
authors.forename: Zhiheng
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D002681:China; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008572:Menarche; D008598:Menstruation; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D065626:Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D017698:Postmenopause
keywords: menarche; menopause; metabolic syndromenon-alcoholic fatty liver disease reproductive years