"The Lower the Menopause Age, the Higher the Risk of Heart Failure and Atrial Fibrillation"

From the left, Nam Gi-eun, Professor of Family Medicine at Korea University Guro Hospital; Shin Ji-in, Professor; Han Kyung-do, Professor at Soongsil University; and Jeong Jin-hyeong, Ph.D. at Sungkyunkwan University.

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Young-won] Domestic researchers have revealed the association between early menopause and the occurrence of heart failure and atrial fibrillation.

The team led by Professor Nam Ga-eun of the Department of Family Medicine at Korea University Guro Hospital (first author Professor Shin Ji-in of Korea University Guro Hospital Department of Family Medicine, Professor Han Kyung-do of Soongsil University Department of Information Statistics and Actuarial Science, co-author Dr. Jung Jin-hyung of Sungkyunkwan University Medical Research Institute, etc.) announced on the 16th the research results that "early menopause and younger age at menopause increase the risk of heart failure and atrial fibrillation."

Generally, cardiovascular diseases are known to occur more frequently in men than in women because the female hormone estrogen protects the cardiovascular system. However, after menopause, when estrogen secretion decreases, women cannot be assured of safety from cardiovascular disease risks.

Professor Nam’s team followed 1,401,175 postmenopausal women aged 30 and above who underwent health checkups by the National Health Insurance Service in 2009 for an average of 9.1 years until the end of 2018. Among the subjects, about 2%, or 28,111 women, experienced early menopause before the age of 40, with the average age of menopause among these women being 36.7 years.

During the period, heart failure and atrial fibrillation occurred in 3.0% (42,699) and 3.2% (44,834) of the total subjects, respectively. Women who experienced early menopause showed a 33% and 9% increased risk of developing heart failure and atrial fibrillation compared to those who did not.

As the age at menopause decreased, the risk of heart failure and atrial fibrillation increased. Compared to women who experienced menopause after age 50, those who experienced menopause at ages 45?49, 40?44, and under 40 had 11%, 23%, and 39% higher risk of heart failure, respectively.

For atrial fibrillation, the risk was 4%, 10%, and 11% higher at menopause ages 45?49, 40?44, and under 40, respectively. These results were adjusted for age, smoking, alcohol consumption, physical activity, chronic diseases (hypertension, type 2 diabetes, dyslipidemia, chronic kidney disease, coronary artery disease, etc.), menopausal hormone therapy, and age at menarche.

Professor Nam stated, "Although previous studies have investigated the relationship between age at menopause and cardiovascular disease, most were conducted on Western women or focused on overall cardiovascular disease, which had limitations. This study suggests that consideration of female reproductive factors is necessary alongside traditional cardiovascular risk factors."

Meanwhile, these research results were published in the August issue of the 'European Heart Journal,' the official journal of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC).