Menarche, Stillbirths, and Pregnancy Loss Influence Peripheral Arterial Disease Risk in Women
3 Jul 2025 • A study of over 272,000 women found strong associations between reproductive history and peripheral arterial disease (PAD).
Key Findings:
- Early (<12 years) or late (>14 years) menarche increased PAD risk (HRs 1.43 and 1.36), while each year delay in first birth reduced it (HR 0.95).
- Miscarriages, stillbirths, and abortions raised risk per event (HRs 1.06, 1.18, and 1.09).
- Protective factors included later menopause, longer reproductive lifespan, and oral contraceptive use (HR 0.85).
- Hysterectomy and oophorectomy each raised PAD risk by 24%. Having ≥4 children increased PAD risk in both women (HR 1.13) and men (HR 1.25).
Findings highlight the need to include reproductive history in cardiovascular risk assessments.
Source: Science Direct | Read Full Story