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Gudmundsdottir, S. L., Flanders, W. D., & Augestad, L. B. (2013). Physical activity and age at menopause: the Nord-Trondelag population-based health study. Climacteric, 16(1), 78–87.
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Age at menopause may affect women's subsequent morbidity and mortality. In contrast to numerous other health outcomes, little is known about the possible effects of physical activity on age at menopause. OBJECTIVES: To assess the relationship between leisure-time physical activity and age at menopause. METHODS: Premenopausal women participating in a population-based health survey (HUNT 2) conducted in the county of Nord-Trondelag, Norway reported their physical activity in the period of 1995-1997. Age at menopause was reported during 2006-2008 (HUNT 3). Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate hazard ratios for menopause and logistic regression to estimate odds ratios for early menopause, with 95% confidence intervals, adjusting for age at menarche, parity, use of oral contraceptives prior to the 6 months preceding participation in HUNT 2, symptoms of depression, smoking status, and education. RESULTS: Women aged 40-49 years at baseline had lower hazard ratios for menopause when participating in any light leisure-time physical activity compared with no activity (p < 0.05) and similar results were observed in 19-39-year-olds. In 50-59-year-old women, the results varied greatly and did not reach statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS: The effects of leisure-time physical activity on age at menopause may be age-dependent. We found indications of earlier menopause for the least active women aged 19-49 years at baseline.
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Gudmundsdottir, S. L., Flanders, W. D., & Augestad, L. B. (2013). Physical activity and cardiovascular risk factors at menopause: the Nord-Trondelag health study. Climacteric, 16(4), 438–446.
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Lowered physical activity levels may partially explain changes in metabolic risk factors in women after menopause. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the association between physical activity and metabolic risk factors at baseline and after 11 years, as well as the change in that association over time in women who were premenopausal and >/= 40 years at baseline. METHODS: Subjects in a Norwegian population-based health survey answered questionnaires and had body and serum measurements during 1995-1997 (HUNT 2) and in a follow-up study during 2006-2008 (HUNT 3). Repeated-measures analyses were used to estimate the association between physical activity and metabolic factors, adjusting for age, smoking status, education, alcohol intake, and parity. Adjustment for hormonal treatment and medication was made, as appropriate. RESULTS: In women remaining premenopausal, a higher physical activity score in HUNT 3 was associated with lower weight (p < 0.01) and waist-hip ratio (p < 0.01) and higher high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol in HUNT 3 (p < 0.01). In women that were postmenopausal by the time of follow-up, a higher physical activity score in HUNT 3 was associated with lower weight (p < 0.01), waist-hip ratio (p < 0.01), triglycerides (p < 0.01), and higher total cholesterol (p < 0.05), HDL cholesterol (p < 0.01), and diastolic blood pressure (p < 0.05) in HUNT 3. The association of total physical activity score with weight and waist-hip ratio was stronger in HUNT 3 than in HUNT 2 (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Increased physical activity may reduce the risk of adverse outcomes and use of pharmacological management in women of menopausal age.
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