Association between Socioeconomic Position in Earlier and Later Life and Age at Natural Menopause: Estudo Pró-SaúDe, Brazil

Abstract

This study was based on a prospective cohort of university staff in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (the Estudo Pró-Saúde). In this article the association between socioeconomic position (SEP) earlier and later in life and age at menopause is investigated. The main indicators investigated were for earlier SEP: mother's and father's schooling; stature; leg and trunk length. For later SEP they were: schooling; home and/or car ownership. Median age at menopause was estimated and survival curves were generated by the Kaplan–Meier method, while the association between indicators of SEP and age at menopause was explored by means of Cox semiparametric models. Associations were found between earlier SEP – represented by trunk length – and earlier menopause and between later SEP – represented by the indicator ‘present schooling’ – and earlier menopause. The association between earlier and later SEP was confirmed. Adverse situations over the life course can impact age at menopause and related health outcomes.