Fig. 1. Conceptual model of the relationship between menopause and cardiovascular disease. Age at menopause and cardiovascular disease share risk factors, including (from left) generic polymorphisms, socioeconomic position, cigarette use, intrauterine environment, and alcohol use. The extent to which these factors and hormonal changes that characterize the menopausal transition have independent effects from aging on cardiovascular disease risk is not known.
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