
New evidence from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research in Ontario has uncovered a significant association between the age at natural menopause (ANM) and the risk of developing asthma among postmenopausal women. The study, “The Association Between Age at Natural Menopause and Risk of Asthma Among Postmenopausal Women From the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA),” was published in the journal, Menopause.
In the study, researchers followed women aged 45 to 85 for more than a decade, providing new insights into how hormonal changes during menopause may influence respiratory health. Menopause is defined as the cessation of menstruation for 12 consecutive months and typically occurs around the age of 51. It results in physiological changes, including a decline in estrogen and progesterone levels.
Researchers found that women who experienced menopause between the ages of 40 and 44 had a 30% lower risk of developing asthma compared to those who reached menopause between 50 and 54 years. This suggests that earlier menopause might offer some protective benefits against asthma, a chronic condition affecting more than 300 million people globally, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
Researchers focused on naturally postmenopausal women who were nonsmokers and had no history of asthma before menopause. More than 51,000 participants were categorized based on their age at menopause: 40–44, 45–49, 50–54 (reference group) and 55-plus. Participants with surgical- or medical-induced menopause as well as those with pre-existing asthma were excluded. Using survival analysis and multivariable Cox regression, the study adjusted for various covariates to determine the relationship between ANM and asthma incidence.
According to the study’s authors, the findings highlight the potential role of estrogen in asthma development. As menopause marks a significant drop in estrogen levels, the timing of this hormonal change appears to influence asthma risk.
The study’s authors encourage clinicians to monitor asthma symptoms more closely in women who experience later menopause. They also indicated that further research is needed to explore the physiological mechanisms behind estrogen’s impact on asthma development and progression.