The relationship between age at menarche and pulse wave velocity and cardiovascular risk factors

Objective To explore the relationship between age at menarche and pulse wave velocity (PWV) and cardiovascular risk factors in postmenopausal women. Methods 2 682 natural postmenopausal women were selected from 7 330 women enrolled in Guiyang area survey 2011-2014. Those diagnosed diabetes and cardiovascular disease, premenopause and nonnatural menopause, age at menarche and menopause age information unclear were excluded. Through questionnaire, physical examination, serology and doppler ultrasound detection, the data of menarche age, body mass index (BMI), blood glucose, blood lipid, PWV and other indicators were obtained. The selected population was divided into 6 groups in accordance with the menarche age. All data were analysed by SPSS 20.0 software. Results Average menarche age in this group of people is (14.6±1.9) years. With the increase of menarche age, 6 groups of abnormal PWV rate was 88%, 76%, 71%, 75%, 76% and 80% respectively, and nearly u-shaped distribution trend (χ²=121.20, P=0.040), while the above indicators was the valley value of the u-shaped distribution in the menarche age of 14 to 15 age group. The risk factors of PWV were the menarche age, actual age, BMI, waist circumference, FPG, 2hPG, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure and triglyceride (all P<0.05). The influence of the menarche age on the abnormal risk of PWV was different in different generations. Conclusions The menarche age is related to pulse wave velocity and cardiovascular risk factors in aged over 40 natural postmenopausal women of Guiyang area.