Longer reproductive lifespan promotes longevity

A recent study has found that longer reproductive lifespan exerts favourable effects on mortality, prolonging survival by 0.84 years. In addition, a healthy lifestyle may augment the beneficial effects of reproductive lifespan.

The study used data from the Swedish Twin Registry, which included 11,669 women (mean age 63.54 years) followed for up to 19 years. All participants completed a structured questionnaire to provide information on reproductive duration (the interval between ages at menarche and menopause) and lifestyle factors (including smoking, alcohol consumption, and physical activity; categorized as unfavourable/intermediate/favourable).

Researchers ascertained survival status using data from the Sweden Cause of Death Register. They applied generalized estimating equation models, Laplace regression, and conditional logistic regression to examine to what extent life-course reproductive duration was associated with all-cause mortality, as well as explore the role of a healthy lifestyle and familial background in such association.

Compared with women who had ≤34 reproductive years, those with ≥40 reproductive years were more likely to have longer lifespan (odds ratio [OR] for all-cause mortality, 0.79, 95 percent confidence interval [CI], 0.68–0.90), with survival time being longer by 0.84 (95 percent CI, 0.24–1.43) years.

Of note, women with ≥40 reproductive years plus a favourable lifestyle had lower all-cause mortality risk than women with <40 reproductive years plus an unfavourable lifestyle (OR, 0.28, 95 percent CI, 0.23–0.35).

Furthermore, ≥40 reproductive years and a favourable lifestyle conferred an additive effect on all-cause mortality (attributable proportion, 0.584, 95 percent CI, 0.016–1.151). The odds ratios obtained using conditional logistic regression and generalized estimating equation models did not differ significantly (p=0.67).

Familial background did not factor in the observed associations.