Relación entre el nivel socioeconómico y la edad de la menopausia

Abstract

In a previous paper we showed that the age at menopause (MA) of patients of the Chilean National Health Service (CNHS) was 47 years. In order to see if this low MA could be associated with the low socio-economic level of these patients, we interviewed 178 women from a higher socio-economic class (The “Red Ladies” -hospital voluntary workers). These interviews were compared with those of the CNHS patients. At interview the average age was similar in both groups: 55.6 years in women of a higher socioeconomic level and 54.9 years in the CNHS patients. In women who had a natural menopause, the MA, corrected by Logit-log, was earlier in the CNHS patients (47.0 +_ 4.4 compared to 48. 8 +_ 5. 1 years, p < 0.002). The age at menarche in those women was also lower (12. 7 + 2. 1 compared with 13.6 _+ 1.1 years. p w 0.001). Thus we found that menopause occurs almost 2 years earlier in the lower socioeconomic levels.