Relationship between Age at Menarche and Metabolic Syndrome in Premenopausal Women: Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2013–2014

BACKGROUND: Early menarche may be associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between age at menarche and metabolic syndrome (MetS) in Korean premenopausal women. METHODS: We used nationally representative data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2013 to 2014, and 3,023 premenopausal women aged 20-55 years were our subjects. We defined early menarche as age at first menstrual period less than 12 years. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the relationship between age at menarche and MetS after adjusting for current age, and socioeconomic, lifestyle, and reproductive variables. RESULTS: MetS was much more common in women aged 40-55 years than in women aged 20-39 years (4.1% vs. 15.1%). Compared with women who experienced menarche at age 12-15 years, the risk of MetS in the early menarche group was not higher in either age group, after adjusting for current age, and socioeconomic, lifestyle, and reproductive variables (odds ratio [OR], 1.767; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.718-4.351 in those aged 20-39 years; OR, 1.780; 95% CI, 0.775-4.085 in those aged 40-55 years). The risk of MetS in women with menarche at age ≥16 years was not higher than in women with menarche at age 12-15 years. CONCLUSION: Early or late menarche was not associated with an increased risk of MetS in premenopausal Korean women. Even before menopause, current age has a major influence on the development of MetS.