Premature menopause associated with an increased risk of T2D development: JAMA
A new study published in the Journal of American Medical Association shows an increased incidence of type 2 diabetes (T2D) linked to early and premature menopause. Chronic type 2 diabetes (T2D) increases mortality and causes microvascular complications and cardiovascular diseases.
The prevention of type 2 diabetes, early diagnosis, and strict glucose management in the early stages to avoid or postpone consequences have all received more attention recently. Therefore, it is essential to identify people who have risk factors linked to type 2 diabetes and provide them priority screening over other groups. Thus, Byung-Joon Ko and colleagues carried out this study to find out if the incidence of T2D in postmenopausal Korean women is related to the age at menopause and early menopause.
A nationally representative sample of 1,125,378 postmenopausal women without type 2 diabetes who joined in the Korean National Health Insurance Service database in 2009 participated in this population-based cohort research. The follow-up period was 8.4 (8.1-8.7) years, with a median (IQR). In March 2024, data analysis was completed.
The age at menopause and premature menopause (menopause beginning before age 40) were the primary exposures. Incident T2D was the main result. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% CIs for incident T2D by age at menopause were estimated using multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression analysis, controlling for possible covariates.
At least a year after inclusion, 1,13,864 (10.1%) of the total 1,125,378 participants had a T2D diagnosis. After controlling for sociodemographic, cardiometabolic, lifestyle, psychiatric, and reproductive factors, women who experienced menopause at ages younger than 40 and between 40 and 44 years of age had a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes than those who experienced it at ages 50 or older. In subgroup analyses, the association was modified by body mass index, depressive disorder, and prediabetes.
The HRs for people with premature menopause when compared to those who experienced menopause at ages 50 or older were 1.54 for those with a BMI of less than 18.5 and 1.14 for those with a BMI of 30 or higher, 1.28 for those with depression and 1.11 for those without depression, 1.25 for those without prediabetes, and 1.04 for those with prediabetes, respectively. Overall, these results imply that in order to slow the course of T2D and guide treatment plans, early menopause should be highlighted and taken into account as a developing risk factor.
Source:
Ko, B.-J., Jung, J.-H., Han, K., & Nam, G. E. (2025). Age at menopause and development of type 2 diabetes in Korea. JAMA Network Open, 8(1), e2455388. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.55388
