South Asian women more prone to premature menopause

A new study found that South Asian women are more likely to experience premature menopause than European women.

In Short

• Early menopause raised major cardiovascular event risk by 14% in women
• Premature menopause increased heart attack and stroke risk by 27%
• South Asian and poorer-country women faced earlier menopause and greater risks

Early or premature menopause could be an important warning sign for future heart problems, a Lancet study suggested.

The large international study analysed data from 1,11,619 women across 26 countries.

Researchers estimated that 9.5% of women had experienced premature menopause, which occurs before the age of 40, while 15.3% had early menopause, defined as menopause between 40 and 44 years.

EARLY MENOPAUSE LINKED TO HEART DISEASE

Women who reached menopause at a younger age were found to face a higher risk of major cardiovascular events such as heart attack and stroke. Early menopause was linked to a 14% increased risk, while premature menopause raised the risk by 27%.

The association between menopause timing and heart disease was found to be consistent across countries and ethnic groups, suggesting that early menopause itself may be an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease.

South Asian women were found to have a 34% higher risk of premature menopause compared with European women. Half of South Asian women reached menopause by the age of 47.4 years, whereas the median age for European women was 50.7 years.

HIGHER RISK IN LOW AND MIDDLE INCOME COUNTRIES

The study showed that women living in low- and middle-income countries had a 53% higher risk of premature menopause than those in high-income nations. Half of these women reached menopause by age 47.5 years, compared with 50.6 years among women in wealthier countries.

Researchers also noted that major cardiovascular events were more common in low- and middle-income countries despite lower rates of traditional risk factors such as obesity, diabetes and high blood pressure. Factors including air pollution, poor diet, lower education levels and reduced muscle strength may contribute to this increased burden.

The findings underline the need for closer monitoring and better management of heart disease risk among women who experience menopause earlier than usual.

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