Menopausal status, age at natural menopause and risk of diabetes in China: a 10-year prospective study of 300,000 women

Abstract

Background Menopause characteristics have been implicated in future health consequences, yet little is known about its relevance to diabetes. We examined the associations of menopausal status and age at natural menopause with diabetes risk in Chinese women. Methods We used prospective data of the China Kadoorie Biobank study that recruited 302,522 women aged 30–79 years in 2004–2008 from 10 areas across China. During average 10.8 years of follow-up, 11,459 incident diabetes cases were recorded among 281,319 women without prior diabetes diagnosis at baseline. Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for incident diabetes associated with menopausal status and age at natural menopause. Results Overall, the mean (SD) age at natural menopause was 48.2 (4.4) years among 141,789 post-menopausal women. Naturally peri-, or post-menopausal women were at higher risk of diabetes, with HRs of 1.17 (95% CI 1.06–1.29) and 1.15 (1.06–1.25) compared with pre-menopausal women, adjusting for several potential confounders. Among women who had natural menopause, the HR of diabetes was 1.14 (1.01–1.30), 1.01 (0.93–1.09), 1.10 (1.04–1.16), and 1.10 (1.01–1.20) for menopause at ages less than 40, 40–44, 50–53, and 54 years or older, respectively, relative to 45–49 years. Conclusions In this study, we found that women with naturally peri-, or post-menopausal status had higher risk of developing diabetes. Besides, among the post-menopausal women, both earlier and later age at natural menopause were associated with increased risk of diabetes.

Association of Serum Uric Acid with Diabetes in Premenopausal and Postmenopausal Women—A Prospective Cohort Study in Shanghai, China

“…In addition, sex differences in glucose homeostasis have been observed in human and rodent models, suggesting that there is a potentially protective role of female sex hormones in preventing diabetes [ 43 ]. A large cohort study in China involving 300,000 people found that perimenopausal and postmenopausal women had an increased risk of developing diabetes compared to premenopausal women, with HRs of 1.17 (95% CI: 1.06–1.29) and 1.15 (1.06–1.25) [ 44 ]. Estradiol has been shown in animal experiments to increase insulin content and glucose-stimulated insulin secretion in mouse islets, suggesting that this hormone plays an active role in glucose homeostasis [ 45 ].…”

Experience with successful treatment of severe recurrent vulvar adhesions: A case report

“…Aggravating factors include chronic inflammation due to poor hygiene, eczema, seborrheic dermatitis, lichen planus or sclerosis, local trauma, and recurrent urinary tract infections (4)(5)(6). In this case, the patient's age at menopause was 47, earlier than the average age of menopause (7). After menopause, she had not received hormone replacement therapy and was in a long-term low oestrogen state.…”

Transient suppression of ovarian function Induced by Dulaglutide: a case report and review of the literature

“…The age of the patient is a risk factor for ovarian hypofunction. In Chinese females, the average age of menopause is 48.2 years [4]. However, the high FSH and LH levels were not related to age, since she returned to normal FSH and LH levels and regular menstrual soon after quitting dulaglutide.…”