Parkinsonism, Parkinson Disease Risk Up With Bilateral Oophorectomy Before 43

MONDAY, Nov. 14, 2022 (HealthDay News) — Premenopausal women who undergo bilateral oophorectomy before age 43 years have an increased risk for parkinsonism and Parkinson disease (PD), according to a study published online Oct. 26 in JAMA Network Open.

Walter A. Rocca, M.D., M.P.H., from the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, and colleagues examined the risk for parkinsonism and PD among women undergoing bilateral oophorectomy using data from two independent cohort studies. Data were included for 2,750 women who underwent bilateral oophorectomy for a benign indication before spontaneous menopause (oophorectomy cohort) and 2,749 age-matched women who did not undergo bilateral oophorectomy from the general population.

The researchers found that oophorectomy was associated with an increased risk for parkinsonism overall and in women younger than 43 years with oophorectomy (hazard ratios [95 percent confidence intervals], 1.59 [1.02 to 2.46] and 7.67 [1.77 to 33.27], respectively). A pattern of increasing risk was seen with younger age with oophorectomy using four age strata: 50 years and older, 46 to 49 years, 40 to 45 years, and younger than 40 years (hazard ratios [95 percent confidence intervals], 1.43 [0.50 to 4.15], 1.55 [0.79 to 3.07], 1.36 [0.64 to 2.89], and 8.82 [1.08 to 72.00], respectively). The number needed to harm was 53 and 27 overall and for those aged younger than 43 at the time of oophorectomy, respectively. The risk for PD was also increased with bilateral oophorectomy in women younger than 43 years with oophorectomy (hazard ratio, 5.00; 95 percent confidence interval, 1.10 to 22.70), with a number needed to harm of 48.

“A reduction in the practice of prophylactic bilateral oophorectomy in premenopausal women at average risk of ovarian cancer may have a substantial impact in reducing the risk of parkinsonism and PD,” the authors write.

One author disclosed financial ties to the pharmaceutical industry.

Abstract/Full Text