Early Disruption of VEGF Receptor Signaling and the Risk for Adult Emphysema

Abstract

participants, yielded very similar results to those reported in our recent article (Table 1). Finally, we appreciate Dr. Liu and Dr. Zhou’s comment on our definition of menopause. We used the mean age at menopause in U.S. women (51 yr) to define menopause. Indeed, average estradiol levels dropped markedly after age 50 years among women included in our analysis. In a secondary analysis, we did not find a significant interaction between menopause (as defined here) and serum estradiol on asthma in participating women. Given the comments by Dr. Liu and Dr. Zhou, we repeated the secondary analysis redefining menopause as not having had a menstrual period for at least a year ([age when interviewed/examined] – [self-reported age at the last menstrual period] >1 yr) or self-report of having had a hysterectomy in which both ovaries were removed. Using this alternative definition, we also found no significant interaction between menopause and serum estradiol on current asthma. Large longitudinal studies with precise information on menopausal status should help better understand the relation between sex hormones and current asthma in adults. n