Population-based study of age at menopause and ultrasound assessed carotid atherosclerosis: The Tromsø Study

Early menopause has been associated with higher prevalence and incidence of cardiovascular disease and death than late menopause, indicating that early loss of ovarian function and subsequent deficiency of estrogen may promote such diseases. No population-based studies have, however, examined the relation between age at menopause and atherosclerosis. We assessed the prevalence and the extent of carotid atherosclerosis by high-resolution B-mode ultrasound in 2588 postmenopausal women who participated in a population health survey. Information about age at menopause and menarche, parity, use of hormone replacement therapy, and prevalent diseases was collected, and cardiovascular risk factor levels were measured. Women with late menopause and women who ever had used postmenopausal estrogens had significantly less atherosclerosis than women with early menopause and those with never use of estrogen. This study provides further support for the hypothesis that estrogen protects women against cardiovascular disease.