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Although early menopause has been linked to osteoporosis and fragility fractures, most studies have been cross-sectional and retrospective, raising concerns about recall bias. In 1977, investigators began a study of white North European women residing in Malmö, Sweden who were born in 1929. The 390 women (age 48 at enrollment) underwent bone mineral density (BMD) assessment and were stratified into two groups: early menopause (before age 47) and late menopause (at or after age 47). In all, 198 of the 298 surviving participants underwent BMD reassessment at age 77. Fracture history and mortality were assessed at the study's end in 2011.
BMD measurements at age 77 indicated osteoporosis in 56% and 30% of those with early and late menopause, re…