A review of 32 studies has examined the association with age of menopause and risk of heart or cardiovascular disease. The studies involved 310,329 women in total and compared outcomes for those women who became menopausal before the age of 45, and those women who became menopausal after the age of 45.
The risk of overall Coronary Heart Disease, Fatal Coronary heart Disease, Cardiovascular mortality and overall mortality was shown to be increased in women who became menopausal under the age of 45.
Comment: Previous reports have emphasised the increased risk of heart disease in women who experience a premature menopause under the age of 40 but this recently published report also emphasises the need for consideration of heart health in women who experience an early menopause under the age of 45.
Reference: Association of Age at Onset of Menopause and Time Since onset of Menopause With Cardiovascular Outcomes, Intermediate Vascular Traits, and All-Cause Mortality: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Muka T et al. JAMA Cardiol 2016