Overview
- Across six U.S. cohorts of 10,036 postmenopausal women followed from 1964 to 2018, natural menopause before 40 was associated with higher lifetime coronary heart disease risk after 55.
- Risk was elevated in both groups studied, with hazard ratios of 1.41 for Black women and 1.39 for white women compared with peers whose menopause occurred at 40 or later.
- Premature menopause was far more common among Black women than white women in the analysis (15.5% vs. 4.8%), compounding higher baseline cardiometabolic risk noted in coverage.
- Study authors recommend routine documentation of menopause age and earlier, intensified cardiovascular risk assessment and prevention for those with premature menopause.
- Researchers excluded surgically induced menopause and non-Black/non-white participants, relied on self-reported timing, lacked consistent data on some sex-specific factors or hormone therapy, and found no significant link with years lived free of coronary disease.