Female fertility has a negative relationship with longevity in Chinese oldest-old population: a cross-sectional study
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Authors
Zhu, Qiao
Fu, Shihui
Zhang, Qian
Tian, Jinwen
Zhao, Yali
Yao, Yao
Issue Date
2021-02-03
Type
Article
Language
en_US
Keywords
Female Fertility , Oldest-Old Population , Centenarian , Negative Relationship
Alternative Title
Abstract
Background:
Despite research efforts in this field for more than a century, the relationship between female fertility and longevity is unclear. This study was designed to investigate this relationship in Chinese oldest-old population.
Methods:
The China Hainan Centenarian Cohort Study was performed in 18 cities and counties of Hainan. A total of 1,226 females, including 758 centenarian women and 468 women aged 80–99 years, were enrolled in this study. Using a standardized protocol, in-person interviews and blood analyses were conducted by a well-trained research team through home visits.
Results:
Centenarian women had significantly lower number of children (NOC) and higher initial childbearing age (ICA) and last childbearing age (LCA) than women aged 80–99 years (p < 0.05 for all). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that NOC and testosterone (T) levels were positively associated with women aged 80–99 years, when centenarian women was considered as reference (p < 0.05 for all). ICA, LCA, and estradiol (E2) levels were negatively associated with women aged 80–99 years, when centenarian women was considered as reference (p < 0.05 for all).
Conclusions:
The centenarians had crucial characteristics of less and delayed childbearing, indicating a negative relationship between female fertility and longevity in Chinese oldest-old population. Serum E2 levels were positively associated and serum T levels were negatively associated with longevity. The less and late childbearing might be a significant factor of longevity, and successful aging might be promoted by reducing and delaying female childbearing.
Description
Citation
Zhu, Q., Fu, S., Zhang, Q., Tian, J., Zhao, Y., & Yao, Y. (2021). Female Fertility Has a Negative Relationship With Longevity in Chinese Oldest-Old Population: A Cross-Sectional Study. Frontiers in endocrinology, 11, 616207. https://doi.org/10.3389/fendo.2020.616207
Publisher
Frontiers in Endocrinology