Duration of ovarian hormone exposure and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease in Korean women: the Korean Heart Study

Objective: Although reproductive and hormonal factors, such as menarche and menopause, have been reported as independent risk factors for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), few studies have examined these factors in East Asian populations. In the Korean Heart Study, ASCVD risk related to duration of ovarian hormone exposure was examined in a cohort of 66,104 Korean women. Methods: Study members were recruited from participants of routine health examinations at health promotion centers across South Korea in 1996-2004. Ovarian hormone exposure was defined as duration between menarche and menopause. Incidence rates for ASCVD, stroke, and ischemic heart disease were examined in relation to ovarian hormone exposure. Results: The mean duration of ovarian hormone exposure at study baseline was 33.7 years, and risk for ASCVD was negatively associated with duration. Women with shorter ovarian hormone exposure (
Source: Menopause - Category: OBGYN Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research