A new Swedish study has reported that women who experienced menopause before age 47 years were almost twice as likely to develop osteoporosis in later life. Not only this, it also leads to increased risk for fragility fractures and death.

The study conducted by Ola Svejme and colleagues has been published by BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology online on 25 April.

A population-based cohort study, the present study included 390 white north European women were followed for 34 years beginning at 48 years of age. They were divided into 2 groups at baseline according to age at menopause occurrence (<47 years and >47 years).

Bone mineral density was measured and recorded at the beginning and again at 77 years.

The mortality rate and fracture incidence were identified from hospital records and national population registers and were recorded through age 82 years.

The results showed that 56% women with early menopause and 30% women with late menopause had developed osteoporosis.

Women with early menopause were also significantly more likely to have sustained at least 1 fragility fracture. The mortality rate in the early menopause group was 52.4%, compared with 35.2% in the late menopause group. [Read more...]