The research analyzed data from about 107 800 women in the UK Biobank. Over a median follow-up of nearly 15 years, about 18 500 women developed high blood pressure. Approximately 23% of women who reached menopause prematurely—between the ages of 25 and 35—developed hypertension, compared with 19% of women who reached menopause between the ages of 40 and 45 and 17% of women who reached menopause after age 45. After adjusting for known risk factors such as body mass index and lifestyle, earlier menopause was still associated with increased risk of high blood pressure.
The researchers said that the findings, published in Menopause, suggest the importance of considering age at menopause as a distinct cardiovascular risk factor for hypertension.
Published Online: September 4, 2026. doi:10.1001/jama.2026.12069
source: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2853911?utm_source=chatgpt.com