Early menarche predicts hypertension in premenopausal women

Early menarche is significantly associated with a higher chance of developing hypertension, specifically in women of reproductive age, suggests a study.

Data from a total of 1,406 women aged 18 to 100 years were analysed in this cross-sectional study, which explored the relationship between early menarche and hypertension in pre- and postmenopausal women. Using standard protocols, the researchers obtained age at menarche, menopause status, haemodynamic, anthropometric, and biochemical data.

Early menarche was defined as menarche at below 12 years of age. Hypertension, on the other hand, was defined by systolic blood pressure (BP) ≥140 mm Hg and/or diastolic BP ≥90 mm Hg and/or use of any antihypertension medication. 

More than one in five women in this study (21.3 percent) had early menarche, while about one in three (38.7 percent) had hypertension.

Premenopausal women with early menarche had a 58-percent higher likelihood of developing hypertension, even after adjustments were made for age, obesity, and smoking (odds ratio, 1.58, 95 percent confidence interval, 1.016–2.461). In postmenopausal women, early menarche was not associated with hypertension, but age, obesity, and diabetes mellitus were.

“In postmenopausal women, the physiological changes inherent to ageing and the presence of more comorbidities, such as diabetes, might overlap the influence of early menarche on hypertension,” the researchers said.