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Cited by 90Menopause: Health Impacts and TreatmentsHealth disparities and outcomesHypothalamic control of reproductive hormones

Lifetime socioeconomic position in relation to onset of perimenopause

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Wise, L A, Krieger, N, Zierler, S, Harlow, B L·2002·Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health
DOI 10.1136/jech.56.11.851PMC PMC1732042
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Abstract

Study objective: To assess the association between lifetime socioeconomic position and onset of perimenopause. Design: Prospective cohort study. Setting: Boston, Massachusetts. Participants: 603 premenopausal women aged 36–45 years at baseline who completed a cross sectional survey on childhood and adult socioeconomic position. Main outcome measures: Time to perimenopause, defined as time in months from baseline interview to a woman’s report of (1) an absolute change of at least seven days in menstrual cycle length from baseline or subjective report of menstrual irregularity; (2) a change in menstrual flow amount or duration; or (3) cessation of periods for at least three months, whichever came first. Main results: Incidence of perimenopause was 1.75 times higher (95%CI 1.10 to 2.79) and median age at onset was 1.2 years younger (44.7 v 45.9 years) for women reporting childhood and adult economic distress compared with women reporting no lifetime economic distress. After adjustment for age, race/ethnicity, age at menarche, parity, oral contraceptive use, family history of early menopause, depression, smoking, and body mass index, the association weakened (incidence rate ratio (IRR)=1.59; 95%CI 0.97 to 2.61). Inverse associations were observed for most, but not all, measures of educational level. Measures of current household income were not associated with risk of perimenopause. Conclusions: This study suggests that adverse socioeconomic conditions across the lifespan, when measured in terms of economic hardship and low educational attainment, may be associated with an increased rate of entry into perimenopause.

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Authors
Wise, L. A., Krieger, N., Zierler, S., & Harlow, B. L.
Affiliations
  • Brigham and Women's Hospital (US)
  • Harvard University (US)
  • Brown University (US)
Corresponding author
Wise, L A
ORCID
Venue
Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health
Publisher
BMJ
Published
2002-11
Volume
56
Issue
11
Pages
851-860
ISSN
  • 0141-7681 (ISSN-L)
  • 0143-005X
  • 1470-2738
DOI
10.1136/jech.56.11.851
PMC
PMC1732042
OpenAlex
W2152707485
Cited by
90
References
3
Citations by year
2025: 7 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 1 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 1 · 2016: 3 · 2015: 3 · 2014: 4 · 2013: 1 · 2012: 4
FWCI
2.29
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institutes of Health (5r01mh050013-05)
  • National Institute of Mental Health (R01 MH 577351, R01-MH-50013)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Menopause: Health Impacts and Treatments
  • Social Sciences › Health › Health disparities and outcomes
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Reproductive Medicine › Hypothalamic control of reproductive hormones
Keywords
perimenopause, socioeconomic position, economic hardship, educational attainment, household income, menopause onset, menstrual irregularity, premenopausal women
MeSH terms
Adult, Age Factors, Climacteric, Cross-Sectional Studies, Educational Status, Female, Humans, Middle Aged, Poverty, Prospective Studies, Risk Factors, Socioeconomic Factors, Body Mass Index, Reproductive History

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