Objective: To assess the relationship between childbearing age and elements of metabolic syndrome (MS) among menopausal women in China.
Materials and methods: One thousand one hundred and forty-one subjects were divided into four interim average childbearing age (ACA) groups: ≥16 < 24 years old, ≥24 < 29 years old, ≥29 < 34 years old, and ≥34 years old. The group with the lowest prevalence of MS was used as a control. Body mass index, waist circumference (WC) and waist-to-hip ratio were assessed. Plasma glucose, lipids, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and fasting insulin (FINS) were measured. Insulin resistance (IR) was assessed using the homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) method.
Results: The prevalence of MS in the 16-24 and 29-34 age groups was higher than that in the control group (p < .05). Compared with the control group, the odds ratios of MS were 1.431 for the 16-24 group (p < .05) and 1.553 for the 29-34 group (P < 0.01). ACA was correlated with FINS, HOMA-IR, WC, fasting plasma glucose, and triglycerides independent of age (p < .05).
Conclusions: Average childbearing age was correlated with parameters of IR and components of MS independent of age in Chinese menopausal women.
Keywords: Childbearing age; insulin resistance; metabolic syndrome.