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Noninvasive Sampling of Mucosal Lining Fluid for the Quantification of In Vivo Upper Airway Immune-mediator Levels
Published on: August 7, 2017
Early age at menarche, lung function, and adult asthma
Ferenc Macsali1, Francisco Gómez Real, Estel Plana
1Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Haukeland University Hospital, 5021 Bergen, Norway. ferenc.macsali@med.uib.no
American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine
|August 25, 2010
Summary
Women who experienced early menarche (puberty onset) had poorer adult lung function and increased asthma prevalence. This highlights the impact of hormonal and metabolic factors on respiratory health in women.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Health
- Pulmonary Medicine
- Endocrinology
Background:
- Hormonal and metabolic status significantly influences women's lung health.
- Early menarche has been linked to various health conditions, including asthma, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and breast cancer.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between age at menarche and adult lung function.
- To examine the association between age at menarche and the prevalence of asthma in adult women.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from 3,354 women (aged 27-57) participating in the European Community Respiratory Health Survey II (1998-2002).
- Collected questionnaire data on women's health, lung function (FEV1, FVC), bronchial hyperreactivity, and IgE levels.
- Employed logistic, linear, and negative binomial regression analyses, adjusting for covariates like age, BMI, smoking, and education.
Main Results:
- Women with early menarche (≤10 years) exhibited significantly lower FEV1 (-113 ml) and FVC (-126 ml) compared to those with menarche at 13 years.
- Early menarche was associated with reduced FEV1 and FVC as percentages of predicted values.
- Increased odds of asthma symptoms (OR, 1.80), asthma with bronchial hyperreactivity (OR, 2.79), and higher asthma symptom scores (MR, 1.58) were observed in women with early menarche.
Conclusions:
- Early menarche is linked to diminished lung function and a higher incidence of asthma in adulthood.
- Findings support the significant role of metabolic and hormonal factors in women's respiratory health outcomes.
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