Researcher finds premature menopause can shorten lifespan by nearly two years
According to a new study led by USF College of Public Health (COPH) PhD student Zailing Xing, premature menopause (defined as menopause occurring before age 40) increases the risk of all-cause death by 53 percent and reduces lifespan by nearly two years compared to women without premature menopause.
co-authored by COPH professors Drs. Amy Alman and Russell Kirby and published in July in the Journal of Women’s Health.
The female hormone estrogen, Xing noted, can have a protective effect on the body, helping to protect women from cardiovascular disease, bone loss and high cholesterol. What’s more, said Xing, the drop in estrogen that occurs with premature menopause can lead to emotional distress, anxiety, depression and reduced quality of life.
“All of these may contribute to the shortened lifespan of women with premature menopause,” she said.
While premature menopause and its connection to mortality have been studied extensively, Xing, who is concentrating in epidemiology, said the study’s use of a statistical method known as propensity score matching analysis (PMS), makes the results more convincing.
“By matching individuals with similar propensity scores, the exposed and unexposed groups become more comparable, making the study design closer to randomized experiments,” she explained. “The application of this method strengthens the persuasiveness of our findings.”
Xing said studying the physical and mental effects of premature menopause emphasizes a woman’s need for comprehensive care and support to help navigate the challenges associated with early menopause.
“Premature menopause can significantly impact a woman’s reproductive and psychological well-being,” Xing said. “Studying the effect of premature menopause on mortality and lifespan sheds light on physical health outcomes and addresses broader aspects of women’s health and quality of life.”
Story by Donna Campisano, USF College of Public Health