Table 2. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of mortality from cardiovascular disease according to age at menarche, menopause, and duration of reproductive period.
| Age at menarche (year) | |||||
| ≤13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | ≥17 | |
| Person-years | 55,608 | 73,075 | 85,672 | 73,992 | 90,747 |
| Total stroke deaths | |||||
| No. | 42 | 83 | 90 | 127 | 145 |
| Age-adjusted HR (95% CI) | 1.00 | 1.28 (0.89-1.86) | 1.04 (0.72-1.50) | 1.46 (1.03-2.07) | 1.36 (0.96-1.92) |
| Multivariable HR (95% CI) | 1.00 | 1.29 (0.89-1.88) | 1.03 (0.71-1.49) | 1.42 (1.00-2.02) | 1.32 (0.93-1.87) |
| Coronary heart disease deaths | |||||
| No. | 18 | 21 | 45 | 36 | 58 |
| Age-adjusted HR (95% CI) | 1.00 | 0.74 (0.39-1.38) | 1.15 (0.67-1.99) | 0.91 (0.51-1.60) | 1.19 (0.70-2.03) |
| Multivariable HR (95% CI) | 1.00 | 0.77 (0.41-1.45) | 1.22 (0.70-2.11) | 0.98 (0.55-1.73) | 1.28 (0.75-2.20) |
| Total cardiovascular disease deaths | |||||
| No. | 96 | 165 | 212 | 230 | 307 |
| Age-adjusted | 1.00 | 1.11 (0.86-1.42) | 1.05 (0.82-1.34) | 1.13 (0.89-1.43) | 1.23 (0.97-1.54) |
| Multivariable HR (95%CI) | 1.00 | 1.13 (0.88-1.45) | 1.06 (0.83-1.35) | 1.13 (0.89-1.44) | 1.22 (0.96-1.53) |
| Total stroke deaths | |||||
| ≤44 | 45-46 | 47-48 | 49-50 | ≥51 | |
| Person-years | 50,463 | 39,803 | 62,599 | 102,134 | 124,094 |
| Total stroke deaths | |||||
| No. | 67 | 54 | 104 | 129 | 133 |
| Age-adjusted HR (95% CI) | 1.19 (0.89-1.60) | 1.07 (0.78-1.47) | 1.40 (1.08-1.81) | 1.03 (0.81-1.32) | 1.00 |
| Multivariable HR (95% CI) | 1.21 (0.89-1.64) | 1.08 (0.78-1.49) | 1.38 (1.07-1.79) | 1.01 (0.80-1.29) | 1.00 |
| Coronary heart disease deaths | |||||
| No. | 23 | 16 | 33 | 40 | 66 |
| Age-adjusted HR (95% CI) | 0.80 (0.50-1.30) | 0.62 (0.36-1.08) | 0.87 (0.57-1.33) | 0.63 (0.42-0.93) | 1.00 |
| Multivariable HR (95% CI) | 0.78 (0.47-1.29) | 0.63 (0.36-1.09) | 0.87 (0.57-1.33) | 0.62 (0.42-0.92) | 1.00 |
| Total cardiovascular disease deaths | |||||
| No. | 139 | 111 | 190 | 265 | 305 |
| Age-adjusted HR (95% CI) | 1.07 (0.88-1.32) | 0.96 (0.77-1.19) | 1.12 (0.93-1.34) | 0.92 (0.78-1.09) | 1.00 |
| Multivariable HR (95% CI) | 1.08 (0.88-1.34) | 0.97 (0.78-1.21) | 1.10 (0.92-1.32) | 0.91 (0.77-1.07) | 1.00 |
| Duration of reproductive period (year) | |||||
| ≤27 | 28-30 | 31-33 | 34-36 | ≥37 | |
| Person-years | 41,725 | 43,941 | 83,127 | 117,275 | 93,026 |
| Total stroke deaths | |||||
| No. | 55 | 68 | 143 | 120 | 101 |
| Age-adjusted HR (95% CI) | 1.08 (0.77-1.50) | 1.19 (0.87-1.62) | 1.36 (1.06-1.76) | 0.88 (0.68-1.18) | 1.00 |
| Multivariable HR (95% CI) | 1.07 (0.77-1.51) | 1.18 (0.86-1.61) | 1.33 (1.03-1.72) | 0.86 (0.66-1.13) | 1.00 |
| Coronary heart disease deaths | |||||
| No. | 20 | 23 | 39 | 50 | 46 |
| Age-adjusted HR (95% CI) | 0.83 (0.49-1.41) | 0.85 (0.52-1.41) | 0.79 (0.51-1.21) | 0.79 (0.53-1.18) | 1.00 |
| Multivariable HR (95% CI) | 0.84 (0.49-1.45) | 0.86 (0.52-1.42) | 0.81 (0.53-1.24) | 0.80 (0.54-1.20) | 1.00 |
| Total cardiovascular disease deaths | |||||
| No. | 119 | 132 | 265 | 275 | 219 |
| Age-adjusted HR (95% CI) | 1.06 (0.85-1.33) | 1.05 (0.85-1.31) | 1.16 (0.97-1.38) | 0.93 (0.78-1.11) | 1.00 |
| Multivariable HR (95% CI) | 1.07 (0.85-1.35) | 1.05 (0.85-1.31) | 1.15 (0.96-1.38) | 0.93 (0.78-1.11) | 1.00 |
Multivariable adjustment: age, body mass index (kg/m2), histories of hypertension and diabetes, current smoking, ethanol intake, marital status, college or higher school, and type of menopause.
Categories of age at menarche ≤13 years, age at menopause ≥51 years, and duration of reproductive period ≥37 years as the reference groups.
The study began in 1988-1990 at baseline, followed until the end of 1999.