Postmenopausal women found to have higher risk for developing rheumatoid arthritis

Postmenopausal women, particularly those who experience early menopause, may have a higher risk for developing rheumatoid arthritis (RA), according to a review published online Sept. 30 in BMC Rheumatology.

Negin Namavari, M.D., from the School of Medicine at Peymaniye Hospital and the Jahrom University of Medical Science in Iran, and colleagues conducted a systematic literature review and meta-analysis to assess the association between menopause and RA. Eleven studies were included in the meta-analysis.

The researchers found that postmenopausal women had a higher risk for developing RA versus premenopausal women (odds ratio, 1.35). Women who experienced early menopause (before 45 years of age) showed significantly higher odds of developing RA than those who underwent menopause at a normal age (odds ratio, 2.97).

“These findings underscore the importance of menopausal status as a potential risk factor for RA, with the substantial increase in RA risk associated with early menopause warranting particular attention from both clinicians and researchers,” the authors write.

“Our results suggest several avenues for future research, including investigation into the biological mechanisms underlying the association between menopause and RA risk, development of targeted preventive strategies for postmenopausal women (especially those who experience early menopause), and exploration of potential interventions to mitigate RA risk in these higher-risk groups.”

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