Age at Natural Menopause and Its Associated Characteristics among Brazilian Women: Cross-Sectional Results from ELSI-Brazil

The findings of this study revealed that, in Brazil, the overall median age at natural menopause is 50 years. Furthermore, the study found that current smoking, leisure-time physical activity, body mass index, and healthy habits are major factors associated with age at menopause in this population. ObjectivesThis study aimed to determine the median age at natural menopause and analyze lifestyle, anthropometric, and dietary characteristics associated with the age at natural menopause among Brazilian women.MethodsThis cross-sectional study involved 2,731 women 50 years and over, drawn from the baseline of the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Aging (ELSI-Brazil, 2015/16). Nonparametric Kaplan-Meier cumulative survivorship estimates were used to assess the median timing of natural menopause. Cox proportional hazards regression models were employed to estimate the associations between age at natural menopause and exposure variables.ResultsThe overall median age at natural menopause was 50 years. In the adjusted Cox model, current smoking (hazard ratio [HR], 1.11; 95% CI, 1.01-1.23) and underweight (HR, 1.34; 95% CI, 1.12-1.61) were associated with earlier natural menopause. Conversely, performing recommended levels of physical activity in the last week (HR, 0.88; 95% CI, 0.80-0.97), being overweight (HR 0.86; 95% CI, 0.74-0.99), and adhering to two or three healthy eating markers (HR, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.66-0.97; HR, 0.76; 95% CI, 0.61-0.94, respectively) were associated with later age at natural menopause. Binge drinking and waist circumference were not associated with age at natural menopause.ConclusionsLifestyle, anthropometric, and dietary characteristics are significant factors that affect the age at natural menopause. Our findings can contribute to public policies targeted at Brazilian women's health.