The role of menopause and hyperlipidemia as risk factors for calcific tendinitis of the shoulder: insights from a Taiwan Biobank study

Chuan-Chao Lin; Oswald Ndi Nfor; Hsu-Chih Huang; Shu-Yi Hsu; Yung-Po Liaw

doi:10.1097/GME.0000000000002764

The role of menopause and hyperlipidemia as risk factors for calcific tendinitis of the shoulder: insights from a Taiwan Biobank study

Menopause. 2026 Mar 17. doi: 10.1097/GME.0000000000002764. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Chuan-Chao Lin^{1

2}, Oswald Ndi Nfor³, Hsu-Chih Huang^{4

5}, Shu-Yi Hsu³, Yung-Po Liaw^{3

4

6

7

8}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.
² School of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung City, Taiwan.
³ Department of Public Health, Institute of Public Health, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
⁴ Institute of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
⁵ Department of Surgery, Division of Thoracic Surgery, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.
⁶ Department of Medical Imaging, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, Taichung City, Taiwan.
⁷ Department of Public Health, College of Public Health, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
⁸ Department of Medical Research, China Medical University Hospital, China Medical University, Taichung City, Taiwan.

PMID: 41842827
DOI: 10.1097/GME.0000000000002764

Abstract

Objective: We investigated the relationship between hyperlipidemia, menopause, and the risk of calcific tendinitis (CT) of the shoulder in female participants aged 30-70 in the Taiwan Biobank (TWB).

Methods: Our analysis included 14,274 women, with 6,883 categorized as menopausal and 4,586 diagnosed with hyperlipidemia. We identified 244 women with CT of the shoulder. We employed logistic regression analyses to investigate the associations between menopause and hyperlipidemia with the risk of developing CT. The models controlled for several variables, including age, body mass index, education level, physical activity, smoking status, alcohol consumption, coffee and tea intake, diet, hormone therapy (HT), diabetes, and hypertension.

Results: Among the 244 women diagnosed with CT, a significant majority(186 [76.23%]) were postmenopausal, and 139 (56.95%) had hyperlipidemia. Logistic regression analysis revealed significant associations: hyperlipidemia increased the odds of CT (odds ratio [OR]=1.72, 95% CI: 1.27-2.33), while menopause presented an even higher risk (OR=2.37, 95% CI: 1.69-3.33). Stratified analyses indicated that women with hyperlipidemia who were not menopausal had an OR of 1.58 (95% CI: 0.85-2.94). Meanwhile, menopausal women without hyperlipidemia showed an OR of 2.29 (95% CI: 1.52-3.45). The highest risk was observed in women with both conditions, yielding an OR of 4.03 (95% CI: 2.67-6.07).

Conclusion: Our findings underscore a significant association between hyperlipidemia, menopause, and the risk of CT of the shoulder in women within the Taiwan Biobank cohort.

Keywords: Calcific tendinitis; Calcification; Hyperlipidemia; Menopause; Shoulder..