According to a group of researchers, women who reach menopause before the age of 40 have chances of contracting a heart condition. This study was presented at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions 2019 in Philadelphia.
For the study, the researchers examined data on more than 1444,000 postmenopausal women, which included about 4900 women who experienced menopause naturally before the age of 40 and approximately 640 who entered menopause before the age of 40, after having their ovaries being removed surgically.
Researchers were able to conclude that women who had experienced premature menopause were significantly more likely to develop conventional heart disease risk factors, such as high blood pressure, high levels of "bad" cholesterol and Type 2 diabetes during follow up check-ins.
The heart disease risks were higher for women who experienced menopause due to surgery compared to natural menopause. Some of this risk difference may be explained by differences in cardiovascular disease risk factors.
Menopausal age prior to age 50 had a dose-dependent effect on cardiovascular disease risk, meaning risk continued to increase with younger menopausal ages and increased cardiovascular risks lasted for decades after menopause.
"Our study reinforces the importance of menopause history in informing a woman's risk of future heart disease," said Michael Honigberg, M.D., M.P.P., lead author of the study and a cardiology fellow at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School in Boston.
"Women should make sure their physician knows their menopause history, particularly if they experienced menopause before age 40. History of premature menopause should prompt physicians to refine the patient's estimated future risks for heart disease and to work toward lowering their heart disease risks," added Honigberg.
He said early evaluations could lead to intervention and medication recommendations. "Whether or not medications are warranted, eating a heart-healthy diet and exercising regularly may be especially important for women with a history of premature menopause," Honigberg said.
