A large multinational study of vasomotor symptom prevalence, duration, and impact on quality of life in middle-aged women

AbstractObjective: The aim of this study was to determine vasomotor symptom (VMS) prevalence, duration, and impacton quality of life in middle-aged women using a validated menopausal tool.Methods: The Menopause Rating Scale (MRS) and an itemized questionnaire containing personal sociodemo-graphic data were used to examine 8,373 women aged 40 to 59 years from 22 healthcare centers in 12 LatinAmerican countries.Results: Less than half (48.8%) of all women studied were postmenopausal, 14.7% used hormone therapy (HT),54.5% presented VMS of any degree, and 9.6% presented severe/bothersome symptoms. The rate of VMS (anydegree) significantly increased from one menopausal stage to the next. HT users presented more VMS (any degree)than did nonusers (58.6% vs 53.8%, P = 0.001). When surgical postmenopausal women were compared, nonYHTusers displayed a higher prevalence of severe VMS (16.1% vs 9.0%, P = 0.0001). The presence of VMS of anydegree was related to a more impaired quality of life (higher total MRS score; odds ratio, 4.7; 95% CI, 4.1-5.3). Thiseffect was even higher among women presenting severe VMS. Logistic regression analysis determined that thepresence of severe psychological/urogenital symptoms (MRS), lower educational level, natural perimenopause-postmenopause status, nulliparity, surgical menopause, and living at high altitude were significant risk factors forsevere VMS. HT use was related to a lower risk. A second regression model determined that surgical menopause,intense psychological/urogenital symptoms, and a history of psychiatric consultation were factors related to severeVMS persisting into the late postmenopausal stage (5 or more years).Conclusions: In this Latin American middle-aged series, VMS prevalence was high, persisting into the late post-menopausal phasein ahighrate andseverelyimpairingqual ity of life. HTusewas related toalower riskof severeVMS.Key Words: Vasomotor symptoms Y Prevalence Y Menopause Rating Scale Y Menopause Y Latin America.