Is There any Association between Age at Menarche and Risk of Metabolic Syndrome? The Tehran Lipid & Glucose Study.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: There is controversial data available regarding the impact of age at menarche on cardio-metabolic parameters. This community-based study aimed to assess this association among Iranian women. METHODS: We recruited 5,344 eligible women out of 7718, aged 10-50 years who participated in the Tehran lipid and glucose study (TLGS), conducted in 1999-2000. Based on their age at menarche, these women were subdivided into five groups <11 years, 11-12 years, 13-14 years, 15-16 years and ≥17 years. The status of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its components were compared among study subgroups. RESULTS: The crude prevalence of MetS was 11.9, 95% CI 11.0-13.0. Prevalence values for MetS components were 20.1 for central obesity (95% CI 19.0-21.3), 15.7 for high fasting blood sugar (FBS), (95% CI 14.5-17.1), 15.1 for high triglycerides, (95% CI 14.1-16.3), 53.5 for low high density lipoproteins (HDL) (95% CI 51.9-55.0) and 9.5 for high blood pressure (BP) (95% CI 8.5-10.4). After adjustment for covariates, menarche age <11 years, compared to 13-14 years, was significantly associated with higher risk of Mets (odds ratio [OR] = 2.3, 95% CI 1.1-5.4) and its components; i.e. central obesity (OR = 2.5, 95% CI 1.5-4.2), BP (OR = 2.9, 95% CI 1.4-6.0) and FBS (OR = 3.0, 95% CI 1.4-6.0). To compare our results with other studies, we calculated the standardized prevalence of MetS which was based on the WHO standardized population 11.5, 95%CI 10.7-12.5 and the standardized prevalence of MetS by the population in Tehran was 11.7, 95% CI 10.7-12.6. CONCLUSION: Early menarche can be associated with an increase in metabolic disturbances later in life.