ISLAMABAD: A recent study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association has revealed a significant association between irregular menstrual cycles and an increased risk of certain heart problems.
The study suggests that women with menstrual cycles longer or shorter than the average range may face a higher cumulative risk of conditions such as coronary heart disease, heart attacks, and atrial fibrillation.
The research, based on data from the UK Biobank, analyzed 58,056 women without cardiovascular disease at the start of the study. The participants, with an average age of 46, were followed up from 2006 to 2019.
The findings indicated that women with irregular menstrual cycles had a 19% higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease compared to women with regular-length cycles. Specifically, shorter cycles were associated with a 29% increased risk, while longer cycles were linked to an 11% higher risk.
The study also discovered that shorter cycles were connected to a 38% higher risk of atrial fibrillation, a condition characterized by irregular heartbeats, while longer cycles were associated with a 30% increased risk of the same condition. However, there was no observed increased risk for stroke or heart failure based on menstrual cycle length.
Irregular Menstrual Cycles and Risk Factors for Heart Disease
Previous studies have already indicated a connection between irregular menstrual cycles and risk factors for heart disease, such as insulin resistance, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, chronic inflammation, and polycystic ovarian syndrome. Hormonal fluctuations during the menstrual cycle have also been suggested as potential contributors to irregular heartbeats or arrhythmias.
Dr Huijie Zhang, the senior author of the study from Nanfang Hospital of Southern Medical University in Guangzhou, China, emphasized the need to explore these risk factors, given the rising prevalence of heart disease and related mortality, particularly among women. Dr Zhang also highlighted the importance of monitoring menstrual cycle characteristics throughout a woman’s reproductive life.
It is worth noting that the impact of menopause on menstrual cycle length could not be ruled out in this study, as the data primarily included women between the ages of 40 and 69. Additionally, since the study population consisted predominantly of white women, the findings may not be generalized to women from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds.
