The risk of Parkinson’s disease in women who underwent hysterectomy before the age of menopause

Introduction
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative aging disorder. Oestrogen has been shown to have a neuroprotective effect against PD in animal models. This study aimed to detect the risk of PD in women who underwent hysterectomy before the age of menopause.

Material and methods
Seventy-six women with PD (study group) were recruited for this retrospective study and compared to 80 controls. Collected data included the education level, smoking, age of menopause, type of menopause (natural or surgical), past surgical history of hysterectomy, type of hysterectomy (hysterectomy only or hysterectomy with oophorectomy [unilateral, bilateral]), and use of postmenopausal oestrogen replacement therapy. The collected data were analysed to detect the risk of PD in women who underwent hysterectomy before the age of menopause.

Results
The odds ratio (OR) and relative risk (RR) of PD was significantly higher after surgical menopause in the study group (30 [39.5%]) compared to controls (17 [21.25%]), (OR 2.4 [95% CI: 1.19–4.8]; p = 0.01, RR 1.9 [95% CI: 1.12–3.1]; p = 0.016). In addition, the OR and RR of PD was significantly higher after bilateral oophorectomy in the study group (19 [25%]) compared to controls (8 [10%]), (OR 3.0 [95% CI: 1.22–7.4]; p = 0.016, RR 2.5 [95% CI: 1.16–5.4]; p = 0.01).

Conclusions
The risk of PD increased in women who underwent hysterectomy and bilateral oophorectomy before the age of menopause, and the risk of PD did not increase whether the menopause, either natural or surgical, occurred before 48 years of age.