Premature menopause is associated with an increased risk of heart disease.[1][2] A study published in the European Heart Journal of more than 1.4 million women found that women with early menopause had a 33 percent higher risk of heart failure and a 9 percent higher risk of atrial fibrillation compared to women with later menopause.[1][2] The younger the age of onset of menopause, the higher the risk of new-onset heart failure and atrial fibrillation.[1][2] Compared to menopausal women aged 50 and older, menopausal women aged 45–49 had an 11 percent higher risk of heart failure, 40–44 had a 23 percent higher risk, and younger than 40 had a 39 percent higher risk of heart failure.[1][2] Cardiovascular disease usually occurs 10 years later in women than in men because they benefit from the protective effect of estrogen before menopause.[1][2] After the end of menstruation and the decrease in estrogen, women become more susceptible to these diseases.[1][2]