Prevention & lipidsCohort study
Premature Menopause and Lifetime Risk of Coronary Heart Disease
- Prospective population-based cohort study
- 6 US cohorts
- race-stratified
Authors' conclusion
In this cohort study, premature menopause was associated with 40% higher lifetime risk of CHD in Black and White women.
Study context
- Population
- Postmenopausal Black or White women aged 55–69 years free of coronary heart disease (CHD) at baseline, 6 US cohorts, 1964–2018; surgical menopause excluded3,522 Black, 6514 White women
- Exposure
- Premature natural menopause vs no premature menopause
- Outcome
- Lifetime risk of CHD (fatal and nonfatal MI)
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Lifetime risk of incident CHD, by race
Premature menopause vs No premature menopauseHazard ratio (95% CI)
Black women
1.41(1.04–1.90)
White women
1.39(1.03–1.87)
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Mean years lived free of CHD (Black women)
- Prevalence of premature natural menopause, by race: Black women 15.5%
- Prevalence of premature natural menopause, by race: White women 4.8%
Mean years lived free of CHD (Black women)
- Similar pattern in White women; neither met statistical significance
Original publication
Premature Menopause and Lifetime Risk of Coronary Heart Disease. JAMA Cardiol. Published 1 May 2026. doi:10.1001/jamacardio.2026.0212
Summarised from the published abstract; every number is checked against it