The relationship between reproductive factors and metabolic syndrome in Korean postmenopausal women: Korea National Health and Nutrition Survey 2005

Objective: Postmenopausal women are known to have a higher prevalence of metabolic syndrome compared with premenopausal women. However, there are few studies that have investigated the effects of reproductive factors on metabolic syndrome in postmenopausal women. The objective of this study was to evaluate the association between reproductive factors and metabolic syndrome in postmenopausal women. Methods: A total of 892 postmenopausal women who participated in the 2005 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were included. We determined an association between reproductive factors and metabolic syndrome. Results: Using a multivariate logistic regression analysis, it was found that age at first birth was negatively associated with metabolic syndrome. Having the first baby at a later age was associated with a decreased risk of having metabolic syndrome (odds ratio, 0.95; 95% CI, 0.90-0.99). However, other reproductive factors including age at menarche, age at menopause, parity, lifetime estrogen exposure, years since menopause, number of pregnancies, history of lactation, and oral contraceptives or hormone therapy use were not associated with metabolic syndrome. Conclusions: Among various reproductive factors, age at first birth was negatively associated with metabolic syndrome in Korean postmenopausal women.