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Approved Research

Reproductive health, physical function, and long-term health outcomes in association with genetic and environmental factors

Principal Investigator: Dr Eliseo Guallar
Approved Research ID: 61936
Approval date: September 22nd 2020

Lay summary

Despite many similarities in men and women, there are sex-specific biological and behavioral differences that may be associated with health outcomes. During their lifetime, women experience several reproductive events, including menarche, pregnancy, and menopause. The production of female hormones changes with these events, which may lead to differences in the epidemiology, pathophysiology, and clinical manifestations of chronic disease. However, the evidence base for the effect of environmental exposures on the reproductive events is weak. In addition, the health effects of the interplay between the environmental exposures, genetic factors, and reproductive factors are not fully understood.

We, thus, aim to investigate whether reproductive factors, such age at menarche, age at menopause, reproductive life span, age at birth, and history of hysterectomy or oophorectomy is associated with the incidence of chronic diseases including cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, and cancer, and all-cause and cause-specific mortality. Moreover, we will evaluate the association of environmental exposures, such as exposure to air pollution, and genetic factors on reproductive factors. Finally, we will evaluate the interaction between reproductive health and physical function on the incidence of chronic diseases. A better understanding of the interaction will lead to new strategy of prevention of cancer and chronic diseases.