Maternal age at first delivery is associated with the risk of metabolic syndrome in postmenopausal women: from 2008-2010 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

Jeong Han Sim,Choon Hee Chung,Jang Yel Shin,Mi Young Lee,Jung Soo Lim,Dawn Chung,Ji Hye Huh,Susanne Kaser

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0127860

Abstract

BackgroundRecent cross-sectional studies demonstrated that earlier maternal age at first childbirth is correlated with a higher risk of diabetes in postmenopausal women. In this study, we evaluated whether the age at first delivery is associated with the risk of metabolic syndrome (MetS) in postmenopausal women.MethodsA total of 4,261 postmenopausal women aged 45 years or older were analyzed using data generated from Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (2008–2010). Subjects were divided into three groups according to the maternal age at first delivery as follows: ≤ 20 years (n=878), 21-25 years (n=2314), and ≥ 26 years (n=1069).ResultsApproximately 37% of subjects had MetS. The prevalence of MetS showed a gradual increase as maternal age at first delivery decreased (≥ 26 years = 30.9% vs. 21-25 years = 39.9% vs. ≤ 20 years = 50.8%, respectively, p < 0.001). Central obesity indices such as trunk fat mass and waist circumference were significantly higher in the group aged ≤ 20 years than other groups. After adjustments for confounding factors, the odds ratios (ORs) for predicting the presence of MetS increased gradually as first delivery age decreased (≥ 26 years vs. 21-25 years vs. ≤ 20 years: OR [95% CI] = 1 vs. 1.324 [1.118-1.567] vs. 1.641 [1.322-2.036], respectively). Among components of MetS, younger maternal age at first delivery (≤ 20 years) was significantly associated with increased waist circumference (OR [95% CI] = 1.735 [1.41-2.13]), elevated blood pressure (1.261 [1.02-1.57]), high triglyceride (1.333 [1.072-1.659]), and low HDL-cholesterol (1.335[1.084-1.643]).ConclusionsOur findings suggest that younger maternal age at first delivery is independently associated with a higher risk of central obesity and MetS in postmenopausal women.

Highlights

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is characterized by several metabolic abnormalities such as dysglycemia, central obesity, dyslipidemia and hypertension [1]
The prevalence of MetS showed a gradual increase as maternal age at first delivery decreased ( 26 years = 30.9% vs. 21-25 years = 39.9% vs. 20 years = 50.8%, respectively, p < 0.001)
Our findings suggest that younger maternal age at first delivery is independently associated with a higher risk of central obesity and MetS in postmenopausal women

Summary

Introduction

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is characterized by several metabolic abnormalities such as dysglycemia, central obesity, dyslipidemia and hypertension [1]. As the prevalence of MetS has increased globally, it has become a major health problem, especially in postmenopausal women who are at high risk for metabolic abnormalities. Age at menarche was associated with metabolic syndrome [4], type 2 diabetes [5, 6], cardiovascular disease and overall mortality [7] in elderly women. Higher parity or gravidity was associated with metabolic syndrome in older Chinese women [8] and type 2 diabetes patients [9]. Recent cross-sectional studies demonstrated that earlier maternal age at first childbirth is correlated with a higher risk of diabetes in postmenopausal women. We evaluated whether the age at first delivery is associated with the risk of metabolic syndrome (MetS) in postmenopausal women

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