The Menopause Society's journal, Menopause, published a new study that links a later menopause onset to a higher risk of asthma in women. This finding challenges conventional assumptions that an earlier menopause onset is typically more harmful to health. Instead, this study shows that oestrogen levels and asthma risk are complicatedly linked. It seems that postmenopausal women may be more likely to get asthma if they are exposed to more oestrogen, either naturally or through hormone therapy.

Asthma, a chronic respiratory condition affecting over 300 million people globally, often presents with a higher incidence in adult women than men. This discrepancy becomes more pronounced after puberty when asthma becomes more common in females. Adult-onset asthma tends to be more severe and harder to manage than childhood-onset asthma, highlighting the importance of understanding its risk factors.

The study analyzed 10-year follow-up data from more than 14,000 postmenopausal women in the Canadian Longitudinal Study of Aging. Researchers found that women who experienced menopause later (typically after age 51) had a higher likelihood of developing asthma. In contrast, women who experienced menopause between ages 40 and 44 appeared to be at a reduced risk. These findings align with past studies suggesting that both natural and synthetic estrogens can influence asthma risks. Women undergoing hormone therapy, for instance, had a 63% increased risk of asthma, while those who discontinued hormone therapy showed an increased likelihood of reducing asthma symptoms.

“Clinicians should be aware of this link and should monitor women with later ages at natural menopause for asthma symptoms,” noted Dr. Stephanie Faubion, medical director for The Menopause Society. Dr. Faubion's statement underscores the need for clinicians to recognize gender-based differences in asthma risk. With asthma having a significant economic impact on healthcare and women showing higher severity levels, the implications of this research are far-reaching.

The study also points to higher body mass index (BMI) as a risk factor in women but not men. Since fat tissue produces oestrogen, a higher BMI could contribute to increased estrogen levels and, subsequently, a heightened asthma risk in postmenopausal women.

While the study sheds light on a possible link between late menopause and asthma risk, the researchers emphasize the need for further research to understand the specific mechanisms involved. This study contributes valuable insights into the relationship between oestrogen and asthma, suggesting that age at menopause may be a critical factor in asthma risk management for postmenopausal women.