TY - JOUR
T1 - Natural menopause and risk of stroke in elderly women
AU - Choi, Seong Hye
AU - Lee, Seung Mi
AU - Kim, Yooni
AU - Choi, Nam Kyong
AU - Yong, Jin Cho
AU - Park, Byung Joo
PY - 2005/12
Y1 - 2005/12
N2 - Although early natural menopause has been postulated to increase stroke risk, studies have not produced convincing results. We examined the associations between stroke risks and age at natural menopause or time since natural menopause. 5,731 naturally postmenopausal women more than 65 yr of age were followed from 1993 to 1998. Information on age at menopause and risk factors were obtained using mailed questionnaires. 186 cases of stroke occurred over a total 27,936 person-years. After adjusting for age, hypertension, and physical activity, age at menopause was not found to be significantly associated with stroke or cerebral infarction. However, adjusted relative risks (aRRs) showed a significant increasing tendency of hemorrhagic stroke versus age at menopause (aRRs, 0.66, 0.48, 1.00 and 2.33 for the following age groups at menopause; 40-44, 45-49, 50-54 [reference group], and ≥55 yr). Time since menopause (11-20, 21-30, and ≥31 yr) was not found to be significantly associated with cerebral infarction, or hemorrhagic stroke. Late menopause (menopause age ≥55 yr) showed a tendency of a lower risk of cerebral infarction (aRR, 0.79) and a higher risk of hemorrhagic stroke (aRR, 2.33). Further study is warranted to determine stroke risk in women during the decade following menopause.
AB - Although early natural menopause has been postulated to increase stroke risk, studies have not produced convincing results. We examined the associations between stroke risks and age at natural menopause or time since natural menopause. 5,731 naturally postmenopausal women more than 65 yr of age were followed from 1993 to 1998. Information on age at menopause and risk factors were obtained using mailed questionnaires. 186 cases of stroke occurred over a total 27,936 person-years. After adjusting for age, hypertension, and physical activity, age at menopause was not found to be significantly associated with stroke or cerebral infarction. However, adjusted relative risks (aRRs) showed a significant increasing tendency of hemorrhagic stroke versus age at menopause (aRRs, 0.66, 0.48, 1.00 and 2.33 for the following age groups at menopause; 40-44, 45-49, 50-54 [reference group], and ≥55 yr). Time since menopause (11-20, 21-30, and ≥31 yr) was not found to be significantly associated with cerebral infarction, or hemorrhagic stroke. Late menopause (menopause age ≥55 yr) showed a tendency of a lower risk of cerebral infarction (aRR, 0.79) and a higher risk of hemorrhagic stroke (aRR, 2.33). Further study is warranted to determine stroke risk in women during the decade following menopause.
KW - Aged
KW - Cerebrovascular Accident
KW - Cohort Studies
KW - Menopause
KW - Stroke
KW - Women
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=31544476848&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3346/jkms.2005.20.6.1053
DO - 10.3346/jkms.2005.20.6.1053
M3 - Article
C2 - 16361821
AN - SCOPUS:31544476848
SN - 1011-8934
VL - 20
SP - 1053
EP - 1058
JO - Journal of Korean Medical Science
JF - Journal of Korean Medical Science
IS - 6
ER -