title: Effects of early age at natural menopause on coronary heart disease and stroke in Chinese women.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Menopause is identified as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease because of the change of estrogen. The objective of the study was to explore the associations between early age at natural menopause (menopause at an age≤45years) and the presence of CHD and stroke.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study subjects were from the first follow-up survey of the Dongfeng-Tongji cohort study. A total of 16,515 postmenopausal women were included for the analysis. Logistic regression models were used to examine the associations between age at natural menopause (≤45, 45-52, >52years) and the presence of CHD and stroke adjusted for sociodemographic characteristics, lifestyle, reproductive history and metabolic factors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the fully adjusted model, for each 1-year delay in menopausal age, the prevalence of CHD and stroke was reduced by 3% (OR, 0.97; 95% CI, 0.95-0.98) and 5% (OR, 0.95; 95% CI, 0.92-0.98), respectively. Women with early menopause (≤45years) had a higher prevalence of CHD (OR, 1.33; 95% CI, 1.13-1.57) compared with those with menopause at ages 45-52years. Similarly, women with early menopause (≤45years) was associated with higher prevalence of stroke (OR, 1.69; 95% CI, 1.25-2.30) compared with those with menopause at ages 45-52years.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Early age at natural menopause is significantly associated with the presence of CHD and stroke among Chinese women.
authors.affiliation: Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, China.
authors.forename: Lijun
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.affiliation: Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, China.
authors.forename: Lulu
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Song
authors.affiliation: Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, China.
authors.forename: Bingqing
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, China.
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, China.
authors.forename: Xiaoxuan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.affiliation: Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, China.
authors.forename: Lina
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: MOE Key Lab of Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, China.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.affiliation: Department of Social Medicine, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, China.
authors.forename: Yuan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.affiliation: Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, China. Electronic address: wangyoujie@mails.tjmu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Youjie
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D044466:Asian People / Q000208:ethnology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008593:Menopause / Q000097:blood / Q000208:ethnology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D057566:Self Report; D020521:Stroke / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology*
keywords: CHD; Menopause; Stroke