Early onset of menarche associated with internal carotid artery intima-media thickness in asymptomatic black-white younger adult women: The bogalusa heart study

Background: Early onset of menarche is related to adulthood risk of breast cancer and cardiovascular (CV) disease. In our previous study we examined the longitudinal changes in adiposity and related risk variables of metabolic syndrome from childhood to young adulthood with respect to early onset of menarche. The purpose of this study is to extend the examination of early onset of menarche with carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT) which is a surrogate marker of CV disease. Information is scant with this aspect in a biracial community-based study.

Methods: This aspect was examined in a cohort of 575 black and white women (31% black, 69 % white) aged 24-43 years (mean 35.9 years) enrolled in the Bogalusa Heart Study. B-mode ultrasound images of the far walls of both carotid arteries were obtained. The early onset of menarche defined as less than 12 years of menarche age.

Results: Black women vs. white women had significantly later onset of menarche age (12.91 and 12.51 mean year, p=0.007). Internal carotid artery IMT was higher in black women vs. white women (0.688 vs. 0.671 μm, p =0.04). In a stepwise multivariate regression model, adjusting for race, age, waist circumference, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and triglycerides/ HDL cholesterol ratio, early onset of menarche remained independently and adversely associated with internal carotid IMT (p=0.03).

Conclusions: The observed deleterious effect of early onset of menarche on carotid IMT in asymptomatic black-white younger adult women underscores the importance of public health implications.