Understanding Different Approaches of Harmonization Using Individual Participant Data to Investigate the Determinants Associated with Age at Menopause

Principal Investigator: Dr. Isabel Fortier

Affiliation: Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre

Start Year: 2016

This project aims to explore different approaches of data harmonization (enhancing quality and utility) by examining the determinants of age at menopause among participants of large population-based studies. Age at menopause is related to women’s health. In addition, it is considered as a marker of human health as its late occurrence may reduce risks of cardiovascular diseases and its early occurrence may reduce risk of breast,
cervical and endometrial cancers. Through this study, we will use and compare different methods of data harmonization to assess the lifestyle, sociodemographic, environmental, and reproductive health-related factors related to age at menopause in Canada and these results will be compared to European studies. Age at menopause and all confounding factors data will be obtained from baseline assessments of LifeLines, the Canadian Partnership for Tomorrow’s Health and UK-Biobank studies.