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Key factors in menopause health disparities and inequities: Beyond race and ethnicity
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Key factors in menopause health disparities and inequities: Beyond race and ethnicity

Yamnia I. Cortés and Valentina Marginean
Current opinion in endocrine and metabolic research, Vol.26, p.100389
10/2022
DOI: 10.1016/j.coemr.2022.100389
url
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coemr.2022.100389View
Published (Version of record) Open Access

Abstract

To summarize recent evidence of the sociocultural, environmental, behavioral, and biological factors that contribute to disparities and inequities in menopause health. Racism, discrimination, chronic stress, and trauma are related to more severe menopause symptoms and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk during the menopause transition (MT). Living in neighborhoods with higher concentrations of air pollution and less greenspace may be associated with a younger age at menopause. These sociocultural and built environments may lead to adverse physiologic changes and health outcomes during the MT, which disproportionately affect women of color. Emerging literature supports the need to address upstream factors that drive inequities in menopause health including, racism, discrimination, and health care access. Women of color and those who identify as a sexual or gender minority likely perceive and experience the MT differently, but additional research is needed to evaluate this fully. •Sociocultural, environmental, behavioral, and biological factors can influence menopause health disparities and inequities.•Midlife women who report higher levels of chronic stress, trauma, and early life adversity are more likely to experience an earlier age at menopause and more frequent menopausal symptoms.•Experiences of racism, perceived racism, and the expectation of racism are associated with higher rates of metabolic syndrome, diabetes, and subclinical atherosclerosis in midlife African-American and Black women.•Age at menopause is 1.4 years earlier for women living in areas with less green space compared with women living in highly green areas, which is particularly important given the racial and economic segregation of neighborhoods.•Future menopause research is needed among historically marginalized populations.
 Health disparities Inequities Menopause Racism Social determinants of health

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