Skip to main content

Smoking + Early Menopause Increases Risk for Lung Disease, Poor Outcomes

Medically reviewed by Carmen Pope, BPharm. Last updated on Aug 1, 2024.

By Lori Solomon HealthDay Reporter

THURSDAY, Aug. 1, 2024 -- Among smokers, early menopause is associated with an increased risk for most lung diseases and poor outcomes, according to a study published online June 13 in Thorax.

Xiaochun Gai, M.B.B.S., from the University of New Mexico School of Medicine in Albuquerque, and colleagues assessed whether early menopause due to surgery affects lung morbidities and mortalities and whether menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) is protective against lung diseases. The analysis included data from 69,706 postmenopausal women.

The researchers found that early menopause was associated with an increased risk for most lung disease and mortality outcomes in ever smokers, with the highest risk seen for respiratory mortality (hazard ratio, 1.98) in those with bilateral oophorectomy (BO). There was a positive association between early menopause and chronic bronchitis and all-cause, noncancer, and respiratory mortality in never smokers with natural menopause or BO, with the highest risk seen for BO (respiratory mortality: hazard ratio, 1.91). Across menopause types, ever MHT use was associated with reduced all-cause, noncancer, and cardiovascular mortality, regardless of smoking status. Additionally, MHT was associated with a reduced risk for nonovarian cancer, lung cancer, and respiratory mortality in ever smokers. Among smokers, there was an association between ever MHT use and a reduction in hazard ratio for all-cause, noncancer, and cardiovascular mortality in a duration-dependent manner.

"Smokers with early menopause should be targeted for smoking cessation and lung cancer screening regardless of menopause types," the authors write.

Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)

Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.

© 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.

Posted August 2024

Read this next

Survey Reveals Women May Be Experiencing Perimenopause in Their 40s

FRIDAY, April 25, 2025 -- Six in 10 women believe they will hit menopause in their 40s, according to survey results released April 8 by The Ohio State University Wexner Medical...

Prevalence of Most Cancer Risk Factors Unchanged Before, After Pandemic

THURSDAY, April 24, 2025 -- Smoking rates continued to decline during the COVID-19 pandemic, but other major risk factors for cancer remained stable, according to a study...

Smoking, Eating, Vaping, Dabbing Are Most Common Routes of Marijuana Use

WEDNESDAY, April 23, 2025 -- Smoking, eating, vaping, and dabbing are the most common routes of marijuana use, according to research published in the April 10 issue of the U.S...

More news resources

Subscribe to our newsletter

Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.