The study investigates the relationship between menarche age, menstrual cycle irregularity, and cardiometabolic health. It found that menstrual cycle irregularities and age at menarche may be linked to cardiovascular and cardiometabolic diseases in women.
Researchers collected data from annual interviews to assess age at menarche and menstrual cycle regularity (less than or greater than every 27-29 days) at age 15. Cardiometabolic health measures were taken at ages 22 to 25 in a subsample consisting mostly of Black women (68.2%). These measures included blood pressure, waist circumference, fasting serum insulin, glucose, and lipid levels. The study aimed to determine differences in cardiometabolic health based on menarche age and menstrual cycle regularity.
Early Menarche and Waist Circumference: Women who experienced menarche before the age of 11 had a significant association with increased waist circumference (P=0.043).
Menstrual Cycle Irregularity: Participants with menstrual cycle irregularities during adolescence had higher levels of insulin, glucose, triglycerides, and both systolic and diastolic blood pressure (P values ranged from 0.035 to 0.005).
They were also more likely to display clinical indicators of cardiometabolic predisease in early adulthood compared to those with regular cycles (odds ratios ranged from 1.89 to 2.56).
As cardiovascular and metabolic diseases show an increasing prevalence, particularly among Black women, there is a growing need to identify early and reliable risk factors. Menstrual cycle irregularities and age at menarche may serve as potential indicators of future risk, aiding in the early identification of women at risk for cardiovascular and cardiometabolic diseases. Understanding the role of women's reproductive health in conferring these risks is crucial for developing targeted prevention and intervention strategies.
Reference:
Keenan, K., Hipwell, A. E., & Polonsky, T. S. (2023). Menstrual cycle irregularity in adolescence is associated with cardiometabolic health in early adulthood. Journal of the American Heart Association. https://doi.org/10.1161/jaha.123.029372
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