The Association of Menopausal Age with Sex Hormones and Anthropometric Measures Among Postmenopausal Women in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis Study

Introduction: We investigated associations of menopausal age category with body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, waist–hip ratio, and waist–height ratio. We also explored the moderating effect of anthropometric measures on associations of menopausal age category with prespecified sex hormones: estradiol, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), sex hormone-binding globulin, bioavailable testosterone, and total testosterone–estradiol (T/E) ratio. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we included 2,436 postmenopausal women from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis who had menopausal age, anthropometric, and sex hormone data at baseline. Menopausal age was categorized as <45 years (early menopause), 45–49 years, 50–54 years (referent), and ≥55 years (late menopause). Linear models were used for analysis. Results: The mean (standard deviation) age was 64.7 (9.2) years. After multivariable adjustment, women who experienced late menopause had higher waist circumference (2.28 cm), waist–hip ratio (0.013 units), and waist–height ratio (0.014 units) but not BMI than those in the referent category. The interaction terms between menopausal age category and anthropometric measures were not significant for prespecified sex hormones (all P interaction >0.05). When compared with the referent category, T/E ratio was 21% (4.72 − 39.8%) higher among women with late menopause while DHEA levels were 9% (1 − 16%) higher among women who experienced menopause between 45 and 49 years in multivariable adjusted models. Conclusion: Women with late menopause had higher abdominal adiposity but not generalized adiposity when compared with those who experienced menopause between 50 and 54 years of age. Androgenicity was higher among women who experienced menopause between 45 and 49 years of age and those with late menopause, based on DHEA and T/E ratios, respectively.