Timing of menarche related to carotid artery intima-media thickness in black and white young adult women: the Bogalusa Heart Study

PurposeThe early onset of menarche is related to the adulthood risk of cardiovascular (CV) disease. This study examines the relation of early onset of menarche to carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT), which is a surrogate marker of CV disease, among asymptomatic young adult women in a black-white community.MethodsA cohort of 461 women (31% black, 69% white) aged 24 to 43 years (mean of 35.6 years) were participants in the Bogalusa Heart Study. The age at menarche was retrospectively collected. In addition to CV risk factor variable measurements B-mode ultrasound images of the far walls of carotid artery segments were obtained. The multivariate linear regression model along with mediating effect by Sobel test was applied to analyze menarcheal age effect on carotid artery IMT, adjusting for covariates.ResultsWaist to height ratio was significantly greater (P = .01) in early menarcheal age (<11 years) versus menarcheal age (≥11 years) in both black and white women. Homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) was significantly greater (P = .01) in early menarcheal age (<11 years) versus menarcheal age (≥11 years) in white women and also similar direction in black women. Internal carotid artery IMT was the same in early menarcheal age (<11 years) versus menarcheal age (≥11 years) in white women but higher (P = .02) in black women. Given as previously mentioned these different associations, the mediation analysis by race was performed. The effect of early menarcheal age (<11 years) versus menarcheal age (≥11 years) was mediated by waist to height ratio and HOMA-IR in white women after adjusting for parental education and age. The mediating effect of waist to height ratio (Sobel test = −2.26 and P = .02) and HOMA-IR (Sobel test = −1.85 and P = .06) on internal carotid artery IMT was noted in white women. The direct effect of early menarcheal age (<11 years) versus menarcheal age (≥11 years) on internal carotid artery IMT (β = −0.150, P = .01) was observed in black women.ConclusionsThe observed deleterious effect of early onset of menarche on carotid artery IMT in asymptomatic black and white younger adult women has biological, social, and public health implications.