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Meta-Analysis
. 2013 Jun 15;132(12):2894-900.
doi: 10.1002/ijc.27952. Epub 2012 Dec 13.

Age at menarche and risk of ovarian cancer: a meta-analysis of epidemiological studies

Ting-Ting Gong  1 , Qi-Jun Wu, Emily Vogtmann, Bei Lin, Yong-Lai Wang
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

Age at menarche and risk of ovarian cancer: a meta-analysis of epidemiological studies

Ting-Ting Gong et al. Int J Cancer. .

Abstract

Epidemiological studies have reported inconsistent associations between menarcheal age and ovarian cancer risk. To our knowledge, a meta-analysis for the association between menarcheal age and ovarian cancer has not been reported. Relevant published studies of menarcheal age and ovarian cancer were identified using MEDLINE, EMBASE and Web of Science through the end of April 2012. Two authors (T-T.G. and Q-J.W.) independently assessed eligibility and extracted data. We pooled the relative risks (RRs) from individual studies using a random-effects model and performed heterogeneity and publication bias analyses. A total of 27 observational studies consisting of 22 case-control and five cohort studies were included in our analysis. In a pooled analysis of all studies, a statistically significant inverse association was observed between menarcheal age (for the oldest compared to the youngest category) and ovarian cancer risk (RR = 0.85; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.75-0.97). The pooled RRs of ovarian cancer for the oldest versus the youngest categories of menarcheal age in prospective and case-control studies were 0.89 (95% CI = 0.76-1.03) and 0.84 (95% CI = 0.70-0.99), respectively. Inverse associations between menarcheal age and ovarian cancer risk were observed in most subgroups; however, the significant association was restricted to invasive and borderline serous ovarian cancer. In conclusion, findings from this meta-analysis support that menarcheal age was inversely associated with the risk of ovarian cancer. More large studies are warranted to stratify these results by different cancer grading and histotype of ovarian cancer.

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Conflict of interest statement

Additionally, the authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1
Selection of studies for inclusion in meta-analysis
Fig 2
Fig 2
Forest plot (random effects model) of menarcheal age and ovarian cancer risk. Squares indicate study-specific relative risks (size of the square reflects the study-specific statistical weight); horizontal lines indicate 95% CIs; diamond indicates the summary relative risk estimate with its 95% CI. CI: confidence interval; RR: relative risk.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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