South Asian women at higher risk of premature menopause, heart disease: study
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South Asian women face a higher risk of premature menopause compared to women of other ethnicities, increasing their chances of developing serious cardiovascular conditions such as heart attacks and strokes, according to a study published in The Lancet Obstetrics, Gynaecology, and Women's Health.
The analysis, based on data from 1,11,619 women across 26 countries, found that women in low and middle-income countries are 53 per cent more likely to experience premature menopause than those in high-income nations.
The study showed that half of the women in low and middle-income countries reached menopause by the age of 47.5 years, compared with 50.6 years in high-income countries.
Among ethnic groups, South Asian women were found to have a 34 per cent higher risk of premature menopause than European women. Half of South Asian women reached menopause by age 47.4 years, compared with 50.7 years for European women.
Researchers defined premature menopause as occurring before the age of 40 and early menopause as occurring between the ages of 40 and 44.
The study found that early menopause was associated with a 14 per cent higher risk of major cardiovascular events, while premature menopause was linked to a 27 per cent increased risk. The association was consistent across different regions and ethnic groups.
Researchers said premature and early menopause could serve as independent markers for identifying women at higher cardiovascular risk.
The findings come from the Prospective Urban Rural Epidemiologic (PURE) study, conducted by an international team of researchers from institutions including The University of Sydney and research centres across Europe, Asia, and Latin America.
Of the women included in the study, 9.5 per cent were estimated to have experienced premature menopause and 15.3 per cent early menopause.
The researchers also found higher rates of cardiovascular events in low and middle-income countries despite lower prevalence of traditional risk factors such as obesity, diabetes, and high blood pressure.
The authors said the findings underscore the need for greater attention to cardiovascular risk management among women experiencing premature or early menopause worldwide.