The impact of menopausal age on future fragility fracture risk.

Altogether 733 postmenopausal women were interviewed with regard to their age at menopause. Subsequent fragility fractures over an 11 year period were recorded. Fragility fractures had occurred in 212 women. These women had an earlier menopause, but the deviation from the nonfracture group was significant only in those who were less than 70 years at the beginning of the fracture catchment period. Women 50-69 years of age, in the lowest quartile of menopausal age, sustained 50% more fragility fractures than those in the highest quartile. In older women menopausal age does not predict fragility fractures. Women less than 70 with an early menopause had a significantly lower initial bone mass.