Women who experience menopause early in life are subject to higher risks of osteoporosis, mortality and fragility fracture later on, says a study done in An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
390 women, average age 48, were recruited in the study and regularly followed-up thereafter.
The study divided its subjects into two groups: those who experienced menopause early (i.e. prior to the age of 47) and those who experienced it later on.
56% of those who followed up in the early group had osteoporosis at the age of 77, compared to 30% in the late group.
The mortality rate in the later menopause group was slightly over 35%, compared to well over 52% in the early menopause group.
44% of the women in the early menopause group had a fracture, compare to 30% in the late group.
"The results of this study suggest that early menopause is a significant risk factor for osteoporosis, fragility fracture and mortality in a long-term perspective. To our knowledge, this is the first prospective study with a follow-up period of more than three decades," said senior author Ola Svejme.
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