Early Onset Menopause Increases Risk of Type 2 Diabetes

Early onset of natural menopause, which occurs from ages 40 years to 44 years, increases the risk of type 2 diabetes in postmenopausal women, according to a recent study.

In the Rotterdam Study, the researchers evaluated 3639 postmenopausal women. Participants retrospectively self-reported their natural age at menopause and were categorized accordingly. Groups included premature menopause (before age 40 years) early menopause (ages 40-44 years), normal menopause (ages 45-55 years), and late menopause (after age 55 years). Follow-up lasted a median of 9.2 years.
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Medical records and glucose measurements obtained at study visits were used to diagnose type 2 diabetes. Additionally, the researchers calculated hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals via Cox proportional hazards models, and adjusted each for confounding factors. In another model, values were further adjusted for potential mediators, including obesity, C-reactive protein, glucose, insulin, and levels of total oestradiol and androgens.

Results indicated that 348 women had been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes over the course of follow-up. After adjustment for confounders, HRs for type 2 diabetes were 3.7 in the premature menopause group, 2.4 in the early menopause group, and 1.6 in the normal menopause group, relative to the late menopause group.

The HR for type 2 diabetes per each additional year of age at menopause was 0.96, the researchers noted. Further adjustment of values indicated that the association between early onset menopause and type 2 diabetes was independent and not affected by body mass index, glycemic traits, metabolic risk factors, C-reactive protein, endogenous sex hormone levels, or shared genetic factors.

“Early onset of natural menopause is an independent marker for type 2 diabetes in postmenopausal women,” the researchers concluded.

—Christina Vogt

Reference:

Muka T, Asllanaj E, Avazverdi N, et al. Age at natural menopause and risk of type 2 diabetes: a prospective cohort study [Published online July 18, 2017]. Diabetologia. doi:10.1007/s00125-017-4346-8.