Is Irregular Menstrual Cycle a Risk Factor for Cardiovascular Diseases?

Early menopause and short menstrual cycle have been associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and myocardial infarction (MI), respectively. However, the relationship between menstrual cycle characteristics throughout the reproductive lifespan with CVD is not well established. To address this evidence gap, a study evaluated the association between menstrual cycle regularity and length and CVD in 58,056 women. The study revealed that women with irregular menstrual cycles were more likely to develop CVD events (hazard ratio [HR], 1.19) and atrial fibrillation (AF; HR, 1.40).

Both short (≤21 days) and long (≥35 days) menstrual cycles were associated with increased CVD events and AF risk (Table 1). Additionally, short menstrual cycle length was also related to an elevated risk of coronary heart disease and MI. Table 1. Menstrual cycles and risks of CVD and AF This…