The health risks associated with obesity are often serious, and new research shows that it increases the likelihood of heart failure in older women, especially those who go through menopause later than usual..

According to a study published April 13 in the Journal of the American Heart Association, women whose periods stopped at age 55 or later were at the highest risk..

“We expected that the impact of obesity on the risk of heart failure would be greatest among women who went through early menopause.. It wasn't, said lead author Dr. Imo Ebong, associate professor of medicine at UC Davis.. “The detrimental effect of obesity on heart failure risk was greatest among postmenopausal women.”.

According to the American Heart Association, heart failure means the heart cannot pump enough blood and oxygen to keep the body's organs functioning well..

Menopause usually begins between the ages of 45 and 55, but some previous research has shown that the average age has risen by 1.5 years over the past six decades.. According to the US government, the incidence of late menopause is just over 14%, and early (before 45 years) - about 13%..

Hormonal changes that occur when menstruation stops can affect the heart. Previous studies have shown that early menopause increases the risk of heart failure, but it was not clear how late menopause affects the risk of heart failure..

Study.

To find out, the researchers analyzed data from nearly 4,500 older American women in a long-term study.. Participants were screened for heart disease after a mean follow-up of 16.5 years, when they were on average almost 64 years old.. During the follow-up period, about 900 people developed heart failure, which led to either hospitalization or death.. Researchers have found a significant association between heart failure risk and age at menopause, body mass index (an estimate of body fat based on weight and height, known as BMI), and waist circumference.. For every 6-point increase in BMI, the risk of developing heart failure increased by 39% in women in the early menopausal group, by 33% in those who experienced menopause between the ages of 45 and 49, and doubled in the late menopause group.. A higher BMI was not associated with an increased risk of heart failure in women who reached menopause between the ages of 50 and 54.. In addition, for every 6 inches increase in waist circumference, the risk of developing heart failure almost tripled among women in the late menopausal group..

conclusions.

According to the results of the study, waist circumference did not significantly increase the risk of heart failure in women in other menopausal age groups.. Ebong said the results could be useful in screening postmenopausal women for heart failure and counseling them on prevention..

“A woman's age when she enters menopause is an important factor, and women should share this information with their doctors to help them assess their risk of developing heart failure,” Ebong said..

medical-heal. en.