Early menopause may raise risk for HF

Researchers evaluated data on 22,256 postmenopausal women enrolled in the population-based Swedish Mammography Cohort between 1997 and 2011. As part of their involvement with the Mammography Cohort, participants responded to questionnaires assessing diet, reproduction and lifestyle, anthropometric traits, tobacco and alcohol use, physical activity and other factors.

The mean age at menopause for the cohort was 51 years; women who experienced menopause from age 40 to 45 years were considered to have early natural menopause. Incident hospitalizations and deaths due to HF were observed during the evaluated period, with a mean follow-up of 13 years.

During follow-up, 2,216 cases of incident HF-related hospitalization and 316 HF-related deaths occurred.

Women who entered menopause at age 45 years or younger had a significant increased risk for HF after multivariable adjustment (HR=1.36; 95% CI, 1.16-1.6) vs. women who entered menopause at age 50 to 54 years. Each 1-year increase in age at entry into menopause reduced the risk for HF by 2% (95% CI, –1 to –4). Sensitivity analysis including only women with a primary diagnosis of HF yielded similar results, but with wider CIs (HR=1.39; 95% CI, 1.1-1.76 for age 45 years or younger).

Stratification according to smoking status indicated an increased risk for HF among never-smokers (HR=1.33; 95% CI, 1.06-1.66) and ever-smokers (HR=1.39; 95% CI, 1.09-1.78) who entered menopause at age 45 years or younger. HF risk also was significantly increased among smokers who entered menopause between age 46 and 49 years (HR=1.25; 95% CI, 1.06-1.47). The researchers noted a significant interaction between smoking status and the age at which participants experienced natural menopause (P=.019).

“This study demonstrates that women who experience early natural menopause … are at increased risk for developing HF, and that smoking can modify the association by increasing the risk even among women who enter menopause around ages 46 to 49 years,” the researchers concluded. “Although more studies on the association between age at menopause and HF are warranted to confirm our results, women who experience menopause at younger ages could benefit from screening for their increased risk of developing HF.”

Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.

Source: www.healio.com