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Nilsson S, Qvick A, Henriksson M, Lawesson SS, Holm ACS, Leander K. Menopausal Vasomotor Symptoms and Subclinical Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease: A Population-Based Study. J Am Heart Assoc 2024; 13:e033648. [PMID: 39166434 DOI: 10.1161/jaha.123.033648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 07/01/2024] [Indexed: 08/23/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Menopausal vasomotor symptoms (VMS) are increasingly emphasized as a potentially important cardiovascular risk factor, but their role is still unclear. We assessed the association between VMS and subclinical atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease in peri- and postmenopausal women. METHODS AND RESULTS Using a cross-sectional study design, questionnaire data were collected from a population-based sample of women aged 50 to 64. The questionnaire asked whether menopause was/is associated with bothersome VMS. A 4-point severity scale was used: (1) never, (2) mild, (3) moderate, and (4) severe. The VMS duration and time of onset were also assessed. Associations with subclinical atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, detected via coronary computed tomography angiography, coronary artery calcium score, and carotid ultrasound were assessed using the outcome variables "any coronary atherosclerosis," "segmental involvement score >3," "coronary artery calcium score >100," and "any carotid plaque," using logistic regression. Covariate adjustments included socioeconomic, lifestyle, and clinical factors. Of 2995 women, 14.2% reported ever severe, 18.1% ever moderate, and 67.7% ever mild/never VMS. Using the latter as reference, ever severe VMS were significantly associated with coronary computed tomography angiography-detected coronary atherosclerosis (multivariable adjusted odds ratio, 1.33 [95% CI, 1.02-1.72]). Corresponding results for ever severe VMS persisting >5 years or beginning before the final menstrual period were 1.50 (95% CI, 1.07-2.11) and 1.66 (95% CI, 1.10-2.50), respectively. No significant association was observed with segmental involvement score >3, coronary artery calcium score >100, or with any carotid plaque. CONCLUSIONS Ever occurring severe, but not moderate, VMS were significantly associated with subclinical coronary computed tomography angiography-detected atherosclerosis, independent of a broad range of cardiovascular risk factors and especially in case of long durations or early onset.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sigrid Nilsson
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences Linköping University Linköping Sweden
| | - Angelika Qvick
- Unit of Cardiovascular and Nutritional Epidemiology Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet Stockholm Sweden
| | - Moa Henriksson
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences Linköping University Linköping Sweden
| | - Sofia Sederholm Lawesson
- Department of Cardiology and Department of Health, Medicine and Caring Sciences Linköping University Linköping Sweden
| | - Anna-Clara Spetz Holm
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences Linköping University Linköping Sweden
| | - Karin Leander
- Unit of Cardiovascular and Nutritional Epidemiology Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet Stockholm Sweden
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DePree BJ, Shiozawa A, Kim J, Wang Y, Yang H, Mancuso S. Treatment satisfaction, unmet needs, and new treatment expectations for vasomotor symptoms due to menopause: women's and physicians' opinions. Menopause 2024; 31:769-780. [PMID: 39186452 DOI: 10.1097/gme.0000000000002399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/28/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To assess treatment satisfaction, unmet treatment needs, and new vasomotor symptom (VMS) treatment expectations among women with moderate to severe VMS and physicians treating women with VMS. METHODS This noninterventional, nonrandomized survey included qualitative interviews and quantitative surveys of women and physicians in the US. Participating women had moderate to severe VMS in the past year and received ≥1 hormone therapy (HT), non-HT, or over-the-counter (OTC) treatment for VMS in the past 3 months. Participating physicians were obstetrician-gynecologists (OB-GYNs) and primary care physicians (PCPs) who treated ≥15 women with VMS in the past 3 months. Two online survey questionnaires were developed using insights from literature, qualitative interviews, and clinical experts. Menopause Symptoms Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire (MS-TSQ) measured treatment satisfaction. Results were summarized descriptively. RESULTS Questionnaires were completed by 401 women with VMS and 207 physicians treating VMS. Among women, mean total MS-TSQ score ranges were 62.8-67.3 for HT, 59.8-69.7 for non-HT, and 58.0-64.9 for OTC treatments. Among physicians, mean total MS-TSQ scores were considerably higher for HT than for non-HT and OTC treatments (HT: 73.4-75.6; non-HT: 55.6-62.1; OTC: 49.2-54.7). Women reported "lack of effectiveness" (41.2%), and physicians reported "long-term safety concerns" (56.5%) as main features that do not meet their current treatment expectations. The majority of women and physicians would consider trying a new non-HT treatment for VMS (75.8 and 75.9%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS Treatment satisfaction and new treatment expectations were similar but with some differences between women and physicians; the need for additional treatments for VMS was identified.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Janet Kim
- Astellas Pharma, Inc., Northbrook, IL
| | - Yao Wang
- Analysis Group, Inc., Boston, MA
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Abay H, Altun E, Kaplan S. Development of the Menopause Perception Scale. Menopause 2024; 31:818-827. [PMID: 39042024 DOI: 10.1097/gme.0000000000002398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/24/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE How women perceive menopause depends on how well they go through that period of time. However, there is no measure that can be used to assess how women perceive menopause. Therefore, we developed a valid and reliable scale (Menopause Perception Scale [MPS]) to assess how women perceive menopause. METHODS This methodological research was conducted in three stages. First, we developed items and assessed their content validity. Second, we collected data from 470 women. Third, we assessed the scale for validity and reliability. Exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis were used for construct validity. Cronbach's α was calculated for reliability. Pearson's correlation coefficient was used for criterion validity. Mean comparison tests were performed for known-groups validity. RESULTS The MPS had a content validity index of 0.90. It had a Kaiser-Meier-Olkin score of 0.768, for which Bartlett's test of sphericity was significant (1,778.047; P < 0.001). The values were acceptable. The exploratory factor analysis yielded an 18-item structure with factor loads greater than 0.40. It also revealed a four-factor model (acceptance, perceived sexuality, normalization, and perceived support) confirmed by the confirmatory factor analysis. The fit indexes were acceptable. The model explained 56.64% of the total variance. The internal consistency was acceptable (Cronbach's α = 0.824). There were positive correlations between the scale and its subscales. Furthermore, the MPS was significantly correlated with the Menopause Attitude Assessment Scale ( r = 0.334, P < 0.001) and the Menopause Rating Scale ( r = -0.286, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS The MPS is a valid, reliable, user-friendly, and practical self-report measure with satisfactory psychometric properties. Researchers should conduct cross-cultural studies to adapt it to other cultures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Halime Abay
- From the Nursing Department, Faculty of Health Sciences, and Ankara Yıldırım Beyazıt University Esenboga Campus, Çubuk, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Esra Altun
- Nursing Department, Ankara University Medicine Faculty Gynecology and Obstetrics Hospital, and Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Ankara University Medicine Faculty Cebeci Hospital, Mamak, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Sena Kaplan
- From the Nursing Department, Faculty of Health Sciences, and Ankara Yıldırım Beyazıt University Esenboga Campus, Çubuk, Ankara, Turkey
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Stuenkel CA. What is menopause? Menopause 2024; 31:837-838. [PMID: 39186454 DOI: 10.1097/gme.0000000000002416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/28/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Cynthia A Stuenkel
- From the Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, University of California, San Diego, School of Medicine, La Jolla, California
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Schei TS, Abernethy K. The impact of a specialist-led digital health application on menopause symptoms in the workplace: A single-arm, longitudinal evaluation. Maturitas 2024; 187:108005. [PMID: 38851044 DOI: 10.1016/j.maturitas.2024.108005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2023] [Revised: 04/07/2024] [Accepted: 04/18/2024] [Indexed: 06/10/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The aim of the study was to evaluate the change in menopause symptoms and work impairment among a cohort of UK working women who utilised an employer-provided digital menopause health application offering education and personalised support. STUDY DESIGN We adopted a retrospective, single-arm, longitudinal approach by analysing data from 11,870 users of the Peppy Health menopause application. Users reported their menopause symptoms and work impairment on day 0 and after 90 and 180 days of application use. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Menopause symptoms were measured by the Menopause Rating Scale, while work impairment was measured by a single question. RESULTS A significant decrease in the severity of menopause symptoms was observed in users across menopause stages, except for premenopausal users who saw lower severity and no change over time. Improvement in menopause symptoms was positively associated with the degree of application engagement. Work impairment also significantly reduced over time for menopausal users, and a significant association was observed between a reduction in menopause symptoms and a decline in work impairment. CONCLUSIONS Our findings show that engaging with a digital menopause application is associated with an improvement in menopause symptoms, which lends initial support for the use of personalised digital solutions to help working women through the menopause transition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thea S Schei
- Peppy Health, 128 City Road, London EC1V 2NX, United Kingdom.
| | - Kathy Abernethy
- Peppy Health, 128 City Road, London EC1V 2NX, United Kingdom
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Hyvärinen M, Karvanen J, Karppinen JE, Karavirta L, Juppi HK, Tammelin TH, Kovanen V, Laukkanen J, Aukee P, Sipilä S, Rantalainen T, Laakkonen EK. The role of cardiorespiratory fitness and body composition in the association between physical activity and menopausal symptoms. Menopause 2024; 31:828-836. [PMID: 39042026 DOI: 10.1097/gme.0000000000002397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/24/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The aim of the study was to conduct exploratory analyses on the role of cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and body composition in the association between physical activity and menopausal symptoms. METHODS This was a cross-sectional (N = 298) study of women aged 51-59 years including a subsample of 82 women followed for 4 years. The severity of menopausal symptoms was assessed with the Menopause Rating Scale in total symptoms as well as using the somato-vegetative, psychological, and urogenital subscales. Physical activity was assessed with accelerometers and self-reports, body composition with dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry, and CRF with a custom-made prediction model based on the six-minute walking distance and spiroergometry. The associations of interest were studied using unstandardized regression coefficients derived from multiple linear regression models with the severity of menopausal symptoms as the outcome. RESULTS Higher total body and fat mass (kg) were associated with more severe total symptoms (B = 0.06 [95% CI, 0.01 to 0.12] and 0.07 [0.01 to 0.14], respectively) as well as somato-vegetative (0.03 [0.01 to 0.05]; 0.04 [0.01 to 0.06]) and psychological symptoms (0.03 [0.00 to 0.05]; 0.03 [0.00 to 0.06]) in cross-sectional design. Total and lean body mass interacted with physical activity in total and psychological symptoms with stronger indirect associations being observed in participants with lower total and lean body mass. CRF was not associated with menopausal symptoms and did not interact with physical activity. CONCLUSIONS Maintaining a healthy weight is associated with less severe menopausal symptoms in middle-aged women. The association between physical activity and the severity of menopausal symptoms varied based on the differences in total and lean body mass.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matti Hyvärinen
- From the Gerontology Research Center, Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Juha Karvanen
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Jari E Karppinen
- Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Laura Karavirta
- From the Gerontology Research Center, Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Hanna-Kaarina Juppi
- From the Gerontology Research Center, Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland
| | | | - Vuokko Kovanen
- Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland
| | | | - Pauliina Aukee
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wellbeing services county of Central Finland, Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Sarianna Sipilä
- From the Gerontology Research Center, Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Timo Rantalainen
- From the Gerontology Research Center, Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Eija K Laakkonen
- From the Gerontology Research Center, Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland
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Calvo-Torres J, Rejas J, Ramírez-Mena M, González-Granados C, Bradbury M, Del Pino M, Procas B, Rubio-Arroyo M, Presa-Lorite J, Gippini I, Fasero M, Fiol G, Romero P, Cohen A, Coronado PJ. Menopause in adult women with human papillomavirus: health-related quality of life and determinants. Menopause 2024; 31:809-817. [PMID: 39186453 DOI: 10.1097/gme.0000000000002395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/28/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and menopause entail a considerable impairment in health-related quality of life (HRQoL). The objective of the present study was to analyze the impact of the menopause status on HRQoL in women with HPV infection. METHODS A cross-sectional, nationwide, multicenter sample of women with HPV infection was conducted throughout clinics of gynecology representative of the Spanish population with regard to age, geographic density, and autonomous regions. Demographic and clinical characteristics and the specific HPV-QoL questionnaire score with its domains were compared according to reproductive status: premenopausal and peri-/postmenopausal. Correlation with other validated patient-reported outcomes measurements was also tested, including General Health Questionnaire-12 (GHQ-12), Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). RESULTS A sample of 1,016 noninstitutionalized women, aged 18-80 y, was recorded, 191 (18.8%) peri-/postmenopausal and 825 (81.2%) premenopausal. Total HPV-QoL scoring was significantly lower in peri-/postmenopausal (38.8, 95% CI [35.2-42.4]) compared to premenopausal (46.4, 95% CI [45.0-47.8]) women, and also in every domain of the scale (P < 0.05), except in social well-being and health domains, with a small effect size of 0.39. In women with sexual dysfunction according to FSFI, adjusted total scoring and domains sexuality, general well-being, and psychological well-being scored significantly higher in premenopause women (P < 0.01), although the magnitude of differences were of small to moderate size. CONCLUSIONS HRQoL was impaired during menopause in women with HPV infection according to HPV-QoL questionnaire. The sexuality domain was the most differentiating dimension between these populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Javier Calvo-Torres
- From the Women Health Institute, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, IdISSC, School of Medicine, Complutense University, Madrid, Spain
| | - Javier Rejas
- EACCOS Research Group, Autonomous University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Mar Ramírez-Mena
- From the Women Health Institute, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, IdISSC, School of Medicine, Complutense University, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Melissa Bradbury
- Unit of Gynecologic Oncology, Service of Gynecology, Gynecological Oncology Department, Vall d'Hebron, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Marta Del Pino
- Institute Clinic of Gynecology, Obstetrics, and Neonatology, Hospital Clínic, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Beatriz Procas
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hospital General Universitario San Jorge, Huesca, Spain
| | - Mar Rubio-Arroyo
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hospital Universitario de Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Spain
| | - Jesús Presa-Lorite
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hospital Universitario de Jaén, Jaén, Spain
| | | | - María Fasero
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hospital Universitario Sanitas La Zarzuela, Universidad Francisco de Vitoria, Madrid, Spain
| | - Gabriel Fiol
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hospital Universitario Torrecárdenas, Almería, Spain
| | - Pablo Romero
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Centro Médico Vithas El Ejido, Almería, Spain
| | | | - Pluvio J Coronado
- From the Women Health Institute, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, IdISSC, School of Medicine, Complutense University, Madrid, Spain
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Moss E, Taylor A, Andreou A, Ang C, Arora R, Attygalle A, Banerjee S, Bowen R, Buckley L, Burbos N, Coleridge S, Edmondson R, El-Bahrawy M, Fotopoulou C, Frost J, Ganesan R, George A, Hanna L, Kaur B, Manchanda R, Maxwell H, Michael A, Miles T, Newton C, Nicum S, Ratnavelu N, Ryan N, Sundar S, Vroobel K, Walther A, Wong J, Morrison J. British Gynaecological Cancer Society (BGCS) ovarian, tubal and primary peritoneal cancer guidelines: Recommendations for practice update 2024. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 2024; 300:69-123. [PMID: 39002401 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejogrb.2024.06.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2024] [Accepted: 06/13/2024] [Indexed: 07/15/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Esther Moss
- College of Life Sciences, University of Leicester, University Road, Leicester, LE1 7RH, UK
| | | | - Adrian Andreou
- Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust, Combe Park, Bath BA1 3NG, UK
| | - Christine Ang
- Northern Gynaecological Oncology Centre, Gateshead, UK
| | - Rupali Arora
- Department of Cellular Pathology, University College London NHS Trust, 60 Whitfield Street, London W1T 4E, UK
| | | | | | - Rebecca Bowen
- Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust, Combe Park, Bath BA1 3NG, UK
| | - Lynn Buckley
- Beverley Counselling & Psychotherapy, 114 Holme Church Lane, Beverley, East Yorkshire HU17 0PY, UK
| | - Nikos Burbos
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital Colney Lane, Norwich NR4 7UY, UK
| | | | - Richard Edmondson
- Saint Mary's Hospital, Manchester and University of Manchester, M13 9WL, UK
| | - Mona El-Bahrawy
- Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital, Du Cane Road, London W12 0HS, UK
| | | | - Jonathan Frost
- Gynaecological Oncology, Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust, Combe Park, Bath, Bath BA1 3NG, UK; University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - Raji Ganesan
- Department of Cellular Pathology, Birmingham Women's Hospital, Birmingham B15 2TG, UK
| | | | - Louise Hanna
- Department of Oncology, Velindre Cancer Centre, Whitchurch, Cardiff CF14 2TL, UK
| | - Baljeet Kaur
- North West London Pathology (NWLP), Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, Hammersmith Hospital, Du Cane Road, London W12 0HS, UK
| | - Ranjit Manchanda
- Wolfson Institute of Population Health, Cancer Research UK Barts Centre, Queen Mary University of London and Barts Health NHS Trust, UK
| | - Hillary Maxwell
- Dorset County Hospital, Williams Avenue, Dorchester, Dorset DT1 2JY, UK
| | - Agnieszka Michael
- Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust, Guildford GU2 7XX and University of Surrey, School of Biosciences, GU2 7WG, UK
| | - Tracey Miles
- Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust, Combe Park, Bath BA1 3NG, UK
| | - Claire Newton
- Gynaecology Oncology Department, St Michael's Hospital, University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust, Bristol BS1 3NU, UK
| | - Shibani Nicum
- Department of Oncology, University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK
| | | | - Neil Ryan
- The Centre for Reproductive Health, Institute for Regeneration and Repair (IRR), 4-5 Little France Drive, Edinburgh BioQuarter City, Edinburgh EH16 4UU, UK
| | - Sudha Sundar
- Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, University of Birmingham and Pan Birmingham Gynaecological Cancer Centre, City Hospital, Birmingham B18 7QH, UK
| | - Katherine Vroobel
- Department of Cellular Pathology, Royal Marsden Foundation NHS Trust, London SW3 6JJ, UK
| | - Axel Walther
- Bristol Cancer Institute, University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust, UK
| | - Jason Wong
- Department of Histopathology, East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust, Ipswich Hospital, Heath Road, Ipswich IP4 5PD, UK
| | - Jo Morrison
- University of Exeter, Exeter, UK; Department of Gynaecological Oncology, GRACE Centre, Musgrove Park Hospital, Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, Taunton TA1 5DA, UK.
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Carvalho ES, Silva LGA, Zullo SA, Damião R. Prevalence of sarcopenic obesity in women and its association with level of independent physical activity combined with sedentary behavior. Menopause 2024:00042192-990000000-00374. [PMID: 39190339 DOI: 10.1097/gme.0000000000002426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/28/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study aimed to determine the prevalence of sarcopenic obesity and its association with the level of physical activity, alone and combined with sedentary behavior. METHODS A cross-sectional study was performed. The sample was composed of 317 women aged between 24 and 59 years. Sarcopenic obesity was determined by the coexistence of sarcopenia (reduced muscle mass and strength) and obesity (% fat). Dual-energy x-ray absorption was used to evaluate muscle mass and % fat, with cutoff points of <15 kg and <31.71%, respectively. Strength was assessed by the handgrip test, with a cutoff point of <21.68 kg. Levels of physical activity and sedentary behavior were assessed using the long version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Individuals who did not achieve 150 minutes per week of physical activity were considered insufficiently active. The cutoff point for sedentary behavior was determined based on the 75th percentile (480 min/wk), considering excessive sedentary behavior (≥75th percentile) and low/moderate sedentary behavior (<75th percentile). RESULTS The prevalence of sarcopenic obesity was 7.9% (95% CI, 4.9-10.8). Sarcopenic obesity was associated with the general physical activity level (odds ratio, 3.96; 95% CI, 1.32-11.8) and being insufficiently active together with low/moderate sedentary behavior (odds ratio, 4.88; 95% CI, 1.49-16.0). CONCLUSIONS There was the presence of sarcopenic obesity in adult women which was associated with the level of general physical activity, alone and combined with sedentary behavior.
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Tijerina A, Fonseca D, Aguilera-González CJ, Heya MS, Martínez N, Sánchez N, Bouzas C, Tur JA, Salas R. Plasma Antioxidant Capacity Is Related to Dietary Intake, Body Composition, and Stage of Reproductive Aging in Women. Antioxidants (Basel) 2024; 13:940. [PMID: 39199186 PMCID: PMC11351479 DOI: 10.3390/antiox13080940] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2024] [Revised: 06/29/2024] [Accepted: 07/31/2024] [Indexed: 09/01/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND women aging is a normal process of life; however, hormonal changes create an imbalance between prooxidants and antioxidants and could be measured as the antioxidant capability (AC) of an organism. OBJECTIVE to find the association between plasma AC levels, dietary intakes, and body composition in 18-64-year-old women living in the northeast of Mexico. METHODS A total of n = 514 women (18-64 years old) were grouped according to STRAW criteria as reproductive, menopausal transition, and postmenopausal. Anthropometrics, body mass index (BMI), weight-hip ratio (WHR), and weight-height ratio WHtR were determined, and percentage of body fat was analyzed by bioelectrical impedance. Dietary intake of macronutrients and vitamins A, E, and C were analyzed by a 3-day food recall. The AC status in plasma was analyzed by the ORACFL assay. RESULTS Plasma AC levels were higher in postmenopausal women (815 µmol TE/L), and menopausal transition women (806 µmol TE/L) than in reproductive women (633 µmol TE/L). BMI was overweight (>25 kg/m2) in all three groups. WHtR and WHR are above the healthy limit of 0.5 and 0.8, respectively for both menopausal transition and postmenopausal women. In reproductive women, negative relationships were calculated between plasma AC and age (Rho = -0.250, p = 0.007), BMI (Rho = -0.473, p < 0.001), WHtR (Rho = -0.563, p < 0.001), WHR (Rho = -0.499, p < 0.001), and % body fat (Rho = -0.396, p < 0.001). A negative association was determined between plasma AC and WHtR in reproductive women (B = -2.718, p = 0.026). No association resulted for those in menopausal transition, and a positive association was obtained between plasma AC and protein (B = 0.001, p = 0.024) and vitamin E (B = 0.003, p = 0.013) intakes in postmenopausal women. CONCLUSIONS the antioxidant capability (AC) in plasma was lower in reproductive women, and anthropometric parameters marking decreased physical fitness were associated with decreased AC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Tijerina
- Faculty of Public Health and Nutrition, Autonomous University of Nuevo Leon, Monterrey 64460, Mexico (D.F.); (N.S.)
| | - Diego Fonseca
- Faculty of Public Health and Nutrition, Autonomous University of Nuevo Leon, Monterrey 64460, Mexico (D.F.); (N.S.)
| | | | - Michel Stéphane Heya
- Faculty of Public Health and Nutrition, Autonomous University of Nuevo Leon, Monterrey 64460, Mexico (D.F.); (N.S.)
| | - Nancy Martínez
- Faculty of Public Health and Nutrition, Autonomous University of Nuevo Leon, Monterrey 64460, Mexico (D.F.); (N.S.)
| | - Nydia Sánchez
- Faculty of Public Health and Nutrition, Autonomous University of Nuevo Leon, Monterrey 64460, Mexico (D.F.); (N.S.)
| | - Cristina Bouzas
- Research Group on Community Nutrition and Oxidative Stress, University of Balearic Islands–IUNICS, 07122 Palma de Mallorca, Spain
- Health Institute of the Balearic Islands (IDISBA), 07120 Palma de Mallorca, Spain
- CIBER Physiopathology of Obesity and Nutrition (CIBEROBN), Institute of Health Carlos III (ISCIII), 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Josep A. Tur
- Research Group on Community Nutrition and Oxidative Stress, University of Balearic Islands–IUNICS, 07122 Palma de Mallorca, Spain
- Health Institute of the Balearic Islands (IDISBA), 07120 Palma de Mallorca, Spain
- CIBER Physiopathology of Obesity and Nutrition (CIBEROBN), Institute of Health Carlos III (ISCIII), 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Rogelio Salas
- Faculty of Public Health and Nutrition, Autonomous University of Nuevo Leon, Monterrey 64460, Mexico (D.F.); (N.S.)
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Gombert-Labedens M, Alzueta E, Perez-Amparan E, Yuksel D, Kiss O, de Zambotti M, Simon K, Zhang J, Shuster A, Morehouse A, Pena AA, Mednick S, Baker FC. Using Wearable Skin Temperature Data to Advance Tracking and Characterization of the Menstrual Cycle in a Real-World Setting. J Biol Rhythms 2024; 39:331-350. [PMID: 38767963 PMCID: PMC11294004 DOI: 10.1177/07487304241247893] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/22/2024]
Abstract
The menstrual cycle is a loop involving the interplay of different organs and hormones, with the capacity to impact numerous physiological processes, including body temperature and heart rate, which in turn display menstrual rhythms. The advent of wearable devices that can continuously track physiological data opens the possibility of using these prolonged time series of skin temperature data to noninvasively detect the temperature variations that occur in ovulatory menstrual cycles. Here, we show that the menstrual skin temperature variation is better represented by a model of oscillation, the cosinor, than by a biphasic square wave model. We describe how applying a cosinor model to a menstrual cycle of distal skin temperature data can be used to assess whether the data oscillate or not, and in cases of oscillation, rhythm metrics for the cycle, including mesor, amplitude, and acrophase, can be obtained. We apply the method to wearable temperature data collected at a minute resolution each day from 120 female individuals over a menstrual cycle to illustrate how the method can be used to derive and present menstrual cycle characteristics, which can be used in other analyses examining indicators of female health. The cosinor method, frequently used in circadian rhythms studies, can be employed in research to facilitate the assessment of menstrual cycle effects on physiological parameters, and in clinical settings to use the characteristics of the menstrual cycles as health markers or to facilitate menstrual chronotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Elisabet Alzueta
- Center for Health Sciences, SRI International, Menlo Park, CA, USA
| | | | - Dilara Yuksel
- Center for Health Sciences, SRI International, Menlo Park, CA, USA
| | - Orsolya Kiss
- Center for Health Sciences, SRI International, Menlo Park, CA, USA
| | | | - Katharine Simon
- Department of Cognitive Science, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Jing Zhang
- Department of Cognitive Science, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Alessandra Shuster
- Department of Cognitive Science, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Allison Morehouse
- Department of Cognitive Science, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | | | - Sara Mednick
- Department of Cognitive Science, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Fiona C. Baker
- Center for Health Sciences, SRI International, Menlo Park, CA, USA
- Brain Function Research Group, School of Physiology, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
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12
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Kachko VA, Shulman LP, Kuznetsova IV, Uspenskaya YB, Burchakov DI. Clinical Evaluation of Effectiveness and Safety of Combined Use of Dietary Supplements Amberen ® and Smart B ® in Women with Climacteric Syndrome in Perimenopause. Adv Ther 2024; 41:3183-3195. [PMID: 38904899 DOI: 10.1007/s12325-024-02910-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2024] [Accepted: 05/22/2024] [Indexed: 06/22/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Perimenopause is a time of transition in a woman's life that links her reproductive years to the cessation of ovulation, or menopause. For many women, this time is characterized by a variety of physiological and lifestyle changes, including increasing irregularity in menstrual bleeding, frequency and severity of vasomotor symptoms, etc. Therapies evaluated specifically for the perimenopausal women are very limited. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of Amberen® (a succinate-based non-hormonal supplement) combined with a Smart B® (vitamin B) complex in women with typical (without complications) mild to moderate climacteric syndrome during perimenopause. METHODS Women up to 50 years of age, in perimenopause, with vasomotor and psychosomatic symptoms of the climacteric syndrome were enrolled for the study. The trial was randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, comparative, and prospective. RESULTS A total of 106 participants were enrolled in the trial and, per protocol, 105 completed the trial. We observed statistically significant improvements in most of the Greene Climacteric Scale symptoms, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and Well-being, Activity, and Mood (WAM) scores. The intervention was well tolerated with few adverse effects reported to be mild and transient. CONCLUSION The use of this dietary supplement is safe and eliminates or improves vasomotor and psychosomatic symptoms of climacteric symptoms in perimenopausal women: it improves sleep and cognitive abilities, lowers depression and anxiety, improves mood and well-being, and positively affects quality of life. CLINICALTRIALS GOV IDENTIFIER NCT03897738.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vera A Kachko
- Alliance Pharma plc and Alliance Pharmaceuticals Ltd. Avonbridge House, Bath Road, Chippenham, Wiltshire, SN15 2BB, England.
| | - Lee P Shulman
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, 250 East Superior Street, Room 05-2174, Chicago, USA
| | - Irina V Kuznetsova
- Vitbiomed Medical Center, 11 bld 2 Donskaya Street, Moscow, 119049, Russia
- International Association of Gynecologists, Endocrinologists and Therapists, 2 bld. 6 Marshal Rybalko Str., Room 14-15, Moscow, 123060, Russia
| | - Yulia B Uspenskaya
- Medsanchast No 14 LLC, 3 bld. 2 Stolyarny Pereulok, Moscow, 123022, Russia
| | - Denis I Burchakov
- NOCHU DPO "Higher School of Medicine", 3A bld. 2 Malaya Semenovskaya Street, Moscow, 107023, Russia
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13
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Cagnacci A, Franco Barattini D, Casolati E, Mangrella M, Piccolo E, Piazza R, Pecoroni A, Rosu S, Cristian Pătrașcu L. Short and long-term effect of polycarbophil vaginal gel on vaginal atrophy of peri- and post-menopausal women. The TRIPLE study. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 2024; 299:303-308. [PMID: 38950453 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejogrb.2024.06.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2023] [Revised: 06/11/2024] [Accepted: 06/24/2024] [Indexed: 07/03/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES This TRIPLE study was aimed to evaluate the efficacy of polycarbophil vaginal gel (PCV) in treating symptoms of vaginal atrophy (VA) of peri- and post-menopausal women. MATERIALS AND METHODS Sexually active women in peri- (n = 29) and post-menopause (n = 54) suffering from VA, were progressively enrolled and treated for 30 days with PCV. Those wishing to continue (n = 73) were treated for additional 180 days. PCV was administered as one application twice a week. The vaginal health index (VHI; range 5 to 25) and the visual analogue score (VAS range for 0 to 100 mm for each item) for vaginal dryness, irritation, and pain at intercourse, along with the global symptoms score (GSS; range 1 to 15) and treatment safety, were evaluated at baseline and after 30 days. In those continuing the treatment an evaluation was performed after additional 180 days. RESULTS Women in peri and post-menopause were of 48.7 ± 3.3 years and 57.5 ± 5.7 years old., respectively. At baseline all outcomes were significantly worse (p<0.002) in postmenopausal group, except the VHI (p < 0.056). After 30 days VHI increased (p < 0.001) of 4.1 ± 0.5 (mean ± SE), and 5.1 ± 0.4 in peri- and post-menopausal women respectively. VAS of vaginal dryness decreased (p < 0.001) of -24.4 ± 3.6, and -52.7 ± 2.6 (p < 0.001), VAS of irritation decreased (p<0.001) of -18.6 ± 4.4 and -47.8 ± 3.2, VAS of pain decreased (p < 0.001) of -26.2 ± 4.3 and -55.6 ± 3.1 and the GSS decreased (p < 0.001) of -3.9 ± 0.3, and -4.9 ± 0.2, in peri and post-menopausal women, respectively. All the modifications were significantly greater (p < 0.001)(p < 0.032 for GSS) in postmenopausal women, and after 30 days all outcomes were similar in the two groups of women. In comparison to baseline, after 210 days of treatment VHI increased of 7.7 ± 0.3 (p < 0.001), VAS of vaginal dryness decreased of -53.6 ± 1.9 (p < 0.001) VAS of irritation of -42.6 ± 1.4 (p < 0.001) VAS of pain of -46.7 ± 2.3 (p < 0.001) and the GSS of -6.5 ± 0.2 ± 0.2 (p < 0.001). All outcomes improved (p < 0.001) over the values observed after 30 days of treatment (p < 0.001). No side effect was reported. CONCLUSIONS In peri- and post-menopausal women PCV administration rapidly improves VA symptoms, and its prolongation up to 6 months further increases its efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angelo Cagnacci
- IRCCS-Ospedale San Martino, Clinica Ostetrica e Ginecologica, Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetic and Sciences of the Mother and the Infant, Genoa, Italy.
| | | | - Elena Casolati
- Private Practice of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Elena Piccolo
- Italfarmaco SpA, Medical Affairs Department, Milan, Italy
| | - Roberto Piazza
- Italfarmaco SpA, Medical Affairs Department, Milan, Italy
| | - Alberto Pecoroni
- Former Italfarmaco SpA, Medical Affairs Department, Milan, Italy
| | - Serban Rosu
- University of Medicine and Pharmacy Victor Babeș, Timișoara, România
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Badawy Y, Spector A, Li Z, Desai R. The risk of depression in the menopausal stages: A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Affect Disord 2024; 357:126-133. [PMID: 38642901 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2024.04.041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2023] [Revised: 03/28/2024] [Accepted: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 04/22/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION For many women, menopause transition can be a period of emotional and physical changes, with different menopausal stages associated with varied risk for depressive symptoms and diagnosis. This review aimed to conduct a systematic review and meta-analyses to provide an estimate for the risk of developing a) clinical depression and b) depressive symptoms at different menopausal stages. METHODS We searched Medline, PsycInfo, Embase and Web of Science from inception to July 2023. Seventeen prospective cohort studies with a total of 16061 women were included in the review, and risk of bias was assessed using the Quality in Prognosis Studies tool (QUIPS). Seven papers with a total of 9141 participants were included in meta-analyses, using random effects models and pooled odds ratios (OR) calculated for depressive symptoms and diagnoses. RESULTS Perimenopausal women were found to be at a significantly higher risk for depressive symptoms and diagnoses, compared to premenopausal women (OR = 1.40; 95 % CI: 1.21; 1.61, p < .001). We did not find a significantly increased risk for depressive symptoms or diagnoses in post-menopausal, compared to pre-menopausal women. LIMITATIONS Studies used different criteria to classify the menopausal stages and different measures for depression, which may have contributed to the heterogeneity seen in some models. We were unable to include a model that compared peri to post-menopause, due to a lack of longitudinal studies comparing the two stages. CONCLUSIONS The risk of depression in perimenopause, shown in an ethnically diverse sample; highlights the clinical need for screening and support in this potentially vulnerable group.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasmeen Badawy
- Department of Clinical Health Psychology, University College London, 1-19 Torrington Place, London WC1E 7HB, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
| | - Aimee Spector
- Department of Clinical Health Psychology, University College London, 1-19 Torrington Place, London WC1E 7HB, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
| | - Zishi Li
- Department of Clinical Health Psychology, University College London, 1-19 Torrington Place, London WC1E 7HB, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
| | - Roopal Desai
- Department of Clinical Health Psychology, University College London, 1-19 Torrington Place, London WC1E 7HB, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
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15
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Park J, Chang Y, Kim JH, Choi HR, Kwon R, Lim GY, Ahn J, Kim KH, Kim H, Hong YS, Zhao D, Cho J, Guallar E, Park HY, Ryu S. Menopausal stages and overactive bladder symptoms in middle-aged women: A cross-sectional study. BJOG 2024. [PMID: 38992913 DOI: 10.1111/1471-0528.17912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2024] [Revised: 06/25/2024] [Accepted: 06/30/2024] [Indexed: 07/13/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To examine the prevalence of overactive bladder (OAB) according to menopausal stages in middle-aged women. DESIGN Cross-sectional study. SETTING Total Healthcare Center in South Korea. POPULATION Middle-aged Korean women (n=3469, mean age, 49.5 ± 2.9 years). METHODS Menopausal stages were defined according to the Stages of Reproductive Aging Workshop +10 criteria, and menopausal symptoms were assessed using the Korean version of Menopause-Specific Quality of Life (MENQOL). Logistic regression models were used to estimate prevalence ratios with 95% confidence intervals for OAB according to menopausal stage and to assess the associations with menopausal symptoms. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES OAB symptoms were evaluated using the Overactive Bladder Symptom Score (OABSS). RESULTS The prevalence of OAB increased with menopausal stage; however, the multivariable-adjusted prevalence ratios for women in menopausal transition and postmenopausal stage were insignificant (ptrend = 0.160) compared to those for premenopausal women. Among individual OAB symptoms, the multivariable-adjusted prevalence ratios for nocturia increased with menopausal stage in a dose-response manner (ptrend = 0.005 for 1 time/day; ptrend < 0.001 for ≥2 times/day). The association between menopausal stages and nocturia occurring ≥2 times/day was evident in women without OAB and with relatively high MENQOL scores, vasomotor symptoms and difficulty sleeping. CONCLUSIONS The prevalence of OAB, particularly nocturia, increased with menopausal stage, and the association was obvious in women with other menopausal symptoms. This finding underscores the importance of addressing nocturia as a potential menopausal symptom in middle-aged women. Further studies are required to understand the mechanisms linking OAB with menopausal symptoms in middle-aged women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jungeun Park
- Center for Cohort Studies, Total Healthcare Center, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
- Institute of Medical Research, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Suwon, Korea
| | - Yoosoo Chang
- Center for Cohort Studies, Total Healthcare Center, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
- Department of Health Science and Technology, Samsung Advanced Institute for Health Sciences and Technology, Sungkyunkwan University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Jae Heon Kim
- Department of Urology, Soonchunhyang University Seoul Hospital, Soonchunhyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Hye Rin Choi
- Institute of Medical Research, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Suwon, Korea
- Healthcare Data Center, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Ria Kwon
- Center for Cohort Studies, Total Healthcare Center, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
- Institute of Medical Research, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Suwon, Korea
| | - Ga-Young Lim
- Center for Cohort Studies, Total Healthcare Center, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
- Institute of Medical Research, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Suwon, Korea
| | - Jiin Ahn
- Center for Cohort Studies, Total Healthcare Center, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Kye-Hyun Kim
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Hoon Kim
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Yun Soo Hong
- Department of Epidemiology and Medicine and Welch Center for Prevention, Epidemiology, and Clinical Research, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Department of Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Di Zhao
- Department of Epidemiology and Medicine and Welch Center for Prevention, Epidemiology, and Clinical Research, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Juhee Cho
- Department of Clinical Research Design and Evaluation, Samsung Advanced Institute for Health Sciences and Technology, Sungkyunkwan University, Seoul, Korea
- Center for Clinical Epidemiology, Samsung Medical Center, Seoul, Korea
| | - Eliseo Guallar
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Global Public Health, New York University, New York, NY, USA
| | | | - Seungho Ryu
- Center for Cohort Studies, Total Healthcare Center, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
- Department of Health Science and Technology, Samsung Advanced Institute for Health Sciences and Technology, Sungkyunkwan University, Seoul, Korea
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16
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Fang Y, Liu F, Zhang X, Chen L, Liu Y, Yang L, Zheng X, Liu J, Li K, Li Z. Mapping global prevalence of menopausal symptoms among middle-aged women: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Public Health 2024; 24:1767. [PMID: 38956480 PMCID: PMC11220992 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-024-19280-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2024] [Accepted: 06/26/2024] [Indexed: 07/04/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Women at middle age are puzzled by a series of menopausal disturbances, can be distressing and considerably affect the personal, social and work lives. We aim to estimate the global prevalence of nineteen menopausal symptoms among middle-aged women by performing a systematic review and meta-analysis. METHODS Comprehensive search was performed in multiple databases from January, 2000 to March, 2023 for relevant studies. Random-effect model with double-arcsine transformation was used for data analysis. RESULTS A total of 321 studies comprised of 482,067 middle-aged women were included for further analysis. We found varied prevalence of menopausal symptoms, with the highest prevalence of joint and muscular discomfort (65.43%, 95% CI 62.51-68.29) and lowest of formication (20.5%, 95% CI 13.44-28.60). Notably, South America shared dramatically high prevalence in a sort of menopausal symptoms including depression and urogenital symptoms. Besides, countries with high incomes (49.72%) had a significantly lower prevalence of hot flashes than those with low (65.93%), lower-middle (54.17%), and upper-middle (54.72%, p < 0.01), while personal factors, such as menopausal stage, had an influence on most menopausal symptoms, particularly in vaginal dryness. Prevalence of vagina dryness in postmenopausal women (44.81%) was 2-fold higher than in premenopausal women (21.16%, p < 0.01). Furthermore, a remarkable distinction was observed between body mass index (BMI) and prevalence of sleep problems, depression, anxiety and urinary problems. CONCLUSION The prevalence of menopausal symptoms affected by both social and personal factors which calls for attention from general public.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiqiao Fang
- Division of Thyroid Surgery, Department of General Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No.37 Guoxue Road, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, China
- Laboratory of Thyroid and Parathyroid diseases, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-Related Molecular Network, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, China
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-related Molecular Network, Center of Precision Medicine, Precision Medicine Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, China
| | - Fen Liu
- Department of Operating Room, West China School of Nursing, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, China
| | - Xinyue Zhang
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-related Molecular Network, Center of Precision Medicine, Precision Medicine Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, China
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, China
| | - Lei Chen
- Division of Thyroid Surgery, Department of General Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No.37 Guoxue Road, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, China
- Laboratory of Thyroid and Parathyroid diseases, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-Related Molecular Network, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, China
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-related Molecular Network, Center of Precision Medicine, Precision Medicine Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, China
| | - Yang Liu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400010, China
| | - Lin Yang
- Department of Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400010, China
| | - Xiaofeng Zheng
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Center for Diabetes and Metabolism Research, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, China
| | - Jiaye Liu
- Division of Thyroid Surgery, Department of General Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No.37 Guoxue Road, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, China
- Laboratory of Thyroid and Parathyroid diseases, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-Related Molecular Network, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, China
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-related Molecular Network, Center of Precision Medicine, Precision Medicine Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, China
| | - Kewei Li
- Department of Pediatric Department, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No.37 Guoxue Road, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, China.
| | - Zhihui Li
- Division of Thyroid Surgery, Department of General Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No.37 Guoxue Road, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, China.
- Laboratory of Thyroid and Parathyroid diseases, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-Related Molecular Network, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, China.
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17
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Tickerhoof M, Cham H, Ger A, Burrja S, Auluck P, Schmidt PJ, Marenco S, Kundakovic M. Postmortem tissue biomarkers of menopausal transition. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.06.20.599941. [PMID: 38979150 PMCID: PMC11230159 DOI: 10.1101/2024.06.20.599941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/10/2024]
Abstract
The menopausal transition (MT) is associated with an increased risk for many disorders including neurological and mental disorders. Brain imaging studies in living humans show changes in brain metabolism and structure that may contribute to the MT-associated brain disease risk. Although deficits in ovarian hormones have been implicated, cellular and molecular studies of the brain undergoing MT are currently lacking, mostly due to a difficulty in studying MT in postmortem human brain. To enable this research, we explored 39 candidate biomarkers for menopausal status in 42 pre-, peri-, and post-menopausal subjects across three postmortem tissues: blood, the hypothalamus, and pituitary gland. We identified thirteen significant and seven strongest menopausal biomarkers across the three tissues. Using these biomarkers, we generated multi-tissue and tissue-specific composite measures that allow the postmortem identification of the menopausal status across different age ranges, including the "perimenopausal", 45-55-year-old group. Our findings enable the study of cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying increased neuropsychiatric risk during the MT, opening the path for hormone status-informed, precision medicine approach in women's mental health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Tickerhoof
- Department of Biological Sciences, Fordham University, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Heining Cham
- Department of Psychology, Fordham University, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Anaya Ger
- Department of Biological Sciences, Fordham University, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Sonola Burrja
- Department of Biological Sciences, Fordham University, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Pavan Auluck
- Human Brain Collection Core, National Institute of Mental Health-Intramural Research Program, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Peter J. Schmidt
- Behavioral Endocrinology Branch, National Institute of Mental Health-Intramural Research Program, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Stefano Marenco
- Human Brain Collection Core, National Institute of Mental Health-Intramural Research Program, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Marija Kundakovic
- Department of Biological Sciences, Fordham University, Bronx, NY, USA
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18
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Delgado Spicuzza JM, Gosalia J, Studinski M, Armando C, Alipour E, Kim-Shapiro DB, Flanagan M, Somani YB, Proctor DN. The acute effects of dietary nitrate supplementation on postmenopausal endothelial resistance to ischemia reperfusion injury: a randomized, placebo-controlled, double blind, crossover clinical trial. Can J Physiol Pharmacol 2024. [PMID: 38901043 DOI: 10.1139/cjpp-2024-0061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/22/2024]
Abstract
Postmenopausal cardiovascular health is a critical determinant of longevity. Consumption of beetroot juice (BR) and other nitrate-rich foods is a safe, effective non-pharmaceutical intervention to increase systemic bioavailability of the vasoprotective molecule, nitric oxide, through the exogenous nitrate (NO3 -)-nitrite (NO2 -)-nitric oxide (NO) pathway. We hypothesized that a single dose of nitrate-rich beetroot juice (BRnitrate 600 mg NO3 -/140 mL, BRplacebo ∼ 0 mg/140 mL) would improve resting endothelial function and resistance to ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury to a greater extent in early-postmenopausal (1-6 years following their final menstrual period (FMP), n = 12) compared to late-postmenopausal (6+ years after FMP, n = 12) women. Analyses with general linear models revealed a significant (p < 0.05) time*treatment interaction effect for brachial artery adjusted flow-mediated dilation (FMD). Pairwise comparisons revealed that adjusted FMD was significantly lower following IR-injury in comparison to all other time points with BRplacebo (early FMD 2.51 ± 1.18%, late FMD 1.30 ± 1.10, p < 0.001) and was lower than post-IR with BRnitrate (early FMD 3.84 ± 1.21%, late FMD 3.21 ± 1.13%, p = 0.014). A single dose of BRnitrate significantly increased resting macrovascular function in the late postmenopausal group only (p = 0.005). Considering the postmenopausal stage-dependent variations in endothelial responsiveness to dietary nitrate, we predict differing mechanisms underpin macrovascular protection against IR injury.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jigar Gosalia
- Department of Kinesiology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | - Matthew Studinski
- Integrative and Biomedical Physiology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | - Chenée Armando
- Penn State College of Medicine, The Pennsylvania State University, Hershey, PA, USA
| | - Elmira Alipour
- Department of Physics, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
| | | | - Michael Flanagan
- Penn State College of Medicine, The Pennsylvania State University, Hershey, PA, USA
| | - Yasina B Somani
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | - David N Proctor
- Integrative and Biomedical Physiology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
- Department of Kinesiology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
- Penn State College of Medicine, The Pennsylvania State University, Hershey, PA, USA
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19
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Mosconi L, Nerattini M, Matthews DC, Jett S, Andy C, Williams S, Yepez CB, Zarate C, Carlton C, Fauci F, Ajila T, Pahlajani S, Andrews R, Pupi A, Ballon D, Kelly J, Osborne JR, Nehmeh S, Fink M, Berti V, Dyke JP, Brinton RD. In vivo brain estrogen receptor density by neuroendocrine aging and relationships with cognition and symptomatology. Sci Rep 2024; 14:12680. [PMID: 38902275 PMCID: PMC11190148 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-62820-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2024] [Accepted: 05/21/2024] [Indexed: 06/22/2024] Open
Abstract
17β-estradiol, the most biologically active estrogen, exerts wide-ranging effects in brain through its action on estrogen receptors (ERs), influencing higher-order cognitive function and neurobiological aging. However, our knowledge of ER expression and regulation by neuroendocrine aging in the living human brain is limited. This in vivo brain 18F-fluoroestradiol (18F-FES) Positron Emission Tomography (PET) study of healthy midlife women reveals progressively higher ER density over the menopause transition in estrogen-regulated networks. Effects were independent of age, plasma estradiol and sex hormone binding globulin, and were highly consistent, correctly classifying all women as being postmenopausal or premenopausal. Higher ER density in target regions was associated with poorer memory performance for both postmenopausal and perimenopausal groups, and predicted presence of self-reported mood and cognitive symptoms after menopause. These findings provide novel insights on brain ER density modulation by female neuroendocrine aging, with clinical implications for women's health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Mosconi
- Department of Neurology, Weill Cornell Medicine, 402 East 70th Street, LH-404, New York, NY, 10021, USA.
- Department of Radiology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Matilde Nerattini
- Department of Neurology, Weill Cornell Medicine, 402 East 70th Street, LH-404, New York, NY, 10021, USA
- Nuclear Medicine Unit, Department of Biomedical Experimental and Clinical Sciences "Mario Serio", University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | | | - Steven Jett
- Department of Neurology, Weill Cornell Medicine, 402 East 70th Street, LH-404, New York, NY, 10021, USA
| | - Caroline Andy
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Schantel Williams
- Department of Neurology, Weill Cornell Medicine, 402 East 70th Street, LH-404, New York, NY, 10021, USA
| | - Camila Boneu Yepez
- Department of Neurology, Weill Cornell Medicine, 402 East 70th Street, LH-404, New York, NY, 10021, USA
| | - Camila Zarate
- Department of Neurology, Weill Cornell Medicine, 402 East 70th Street, LH-404, New York, NY, 10021, USA
| | - Caroline Carlton
- Department of Neurology, Weill Cornell Medicine, 402 East 70th Street, LH-404, New York, NY, 10021, USA
| | - Francesca Fauci
- Department of Neurology, Weill Cornell Medicine, 402 East 70th Street, LH-404, New York, NY, 10021, USA
| | - Trisha Ajila
- Department of Neurology, Weill Cornell Medicine, 402 East 70th Street, LH-404, New York, NY, 10021, USA
| | - Silky Pahlajani
- Department of Neurology, Weill Cornell Medicine, 402 East 70th Street, LH-404, New York, NY, 10021, USA
- Department of Radiology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | | | - Alberto Pupi
- Nuclear Medicine Unit, Department of Biomedical Experimental and Clinical Sciences "Mario Serio", University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Douglas Ballon
- Department of Radiology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - James Kelly
- Department of Radiology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Joseph R Osborne
- Department of Radiology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Sadek Nehmeh
- Department of Radiology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Matthew Fink
- Department of Neurology, Weill Cornell Medicine, 402 East 70th Street, LH-404, New York, NY, 10021, USA
| | - Valentina Berti
- Nuclear Medicine Unit, Department of Biomedical Experimental and Clinical Sciences "Mario Serio", University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | | | - Roberta Diaz Brinton
- Department of Pharmacology and Neurology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
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Ozcivit Erkan IB, Seyisoglu HH, Benbir Senel G, Karadeniz D, Ozdemir F, Kalayci A, Seven M, Gokmen Inan N. An Evaluation of DNA Methylation Levels and Sleep in Relation to Hot Flashes: A Cross-Sectional Study. J Clin Med 2024; 13:3502. [PMID: 38930031 PMCID: PMC11204679 DOI: 10.3390/jcm13123502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2024] [Revised: 05/26/2024] [Accepted: 06/12/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Objectives: We aimed to evaluate the DNA methylation levels in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women, measured through Long Interspersed Element-1 (LINE-1) and Alu, and the sleep parameters in relation to the presence of hot flashes (HFs). Methods: This cross-sectional study included 30 peri- or postmenopausal women aged between 45 and 55. The menopausal status was determined according to STRAW + 10 criteria and all participants had a low cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk profile determined by Framingham risk score. The sample was divided into two groups based on the presence or absence of HFs documented in their medical history during their initial visit: Group 1 (n = 15) with HFs present and Group 2 (n = 15) with HFs absent. The patients had polysomnography test and HFs were recorded both by sternal skin conductance and self-report overnight. Genomic DNA was extracted from the women's blood and methylation status was analyzed by fluorescence-based real-time quantitative PCR. The quantified value of DNA methylation of a target gene was normalized by β-actin. The primary outcome was the variation in methylation levels of LINE-1 and Alu and sleep parameters according to the presence of HFs. Results: LINE-1 and Alu methylation levels were higher in Group 1 (HFs present), although statistically non-significant. LINE-1 methylation levels were negatively correlated with age. Sleep efficiency was statistically significantly lower for women in Group 1 (HFs present) (74.66% ± 11.16% vs. 82.63% ± 7.31%; p = 0.03). The ratio of duration of awakening to total sleep time was statistically significantly higher in Group 1 (HFs present) (22.38% ± 9.99% vs. 15.07% ± 6.93, p = 0.03). Objectively recorded hot flashes were significantly higher in Group 1 (4.00 ± 3.21 vs. 1.47 ± 1.46, p = 0.03). None of the cases in Group 2 self-reported HF despite objectively recorded HFs during the polysomnography. The rate of hot flash associated with awakening was 41.4% in the whole sample. Conclusions: Women with a history of hot flashes exhibited lower sleep efficiency and higher awakening rates. Although a history of experiencing hot flashes was associated with higher LINE-1 and Alu methylation levels, no statistical significance was found. Further studies are needed to clarify this association. This study was funded by the Scientific Research Projects Coordination Unit of Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa. Project number: TTU-2021-35629.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ipek Betul Ozcivit Erkan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Cerrahpasa Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Cerrahpaşa Mah. Kocamustafapaşa Cad. No:34/E Fatih/İSTANBUL, Istanbul 34098, Turkey;
| | - Hasan Hakan Seyisoglu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Cerrahpasa Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Cerrahpaşa Mah. Kocamustafapaşa Cad. No:34/E Fatih/İSTANBUL, Istanbul 34098, Turkey;
| | - Gulcin Benbir Senel
- Sleep Disorders Units, Department of Neurology, Cerrahpasa Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Istanbul 34098, Turkey; (G.B.S.); (D.K.)
| | - Derya Karadeniz
- Sleep Disorders Units, Department of Neurology, Cerrahpasa Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Istanbul 34098, Turkey; (G.B.S.); (D.K.)
| | - Filiz Ozdemir
- Department of Medical Genetics, Cerrahpasa Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Istanbul 34098, Turkey; (F.O.); (A.K.); (M.S.)
| | - Aysel Kalayci
- Department of Medical Genetics, Cerrahpasa Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Istanbul 34098, Turkey; (F.O.); (A.K.); (M.S.)
| | - Mehmet Seven
- Department of Medical Genetics, Cerrahpasa Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Istanbul 34098, Turkey; (F.O.); (A.K.); (M.S.)
| | - Neslihan Gokmen Inan
- Department of Computer Engineering, College of Engineering, Koc University, Istanbul 34450, Turkey;
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21
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Hassanein MM, Huri HZ, Abduelkarem AR. The impact of perceived vaginal and urinary symptoms and treatment burden in predicting sexual functioning among perimenopausal and postmenopausal women. Int J Gynaecol Obstet 2024. [PMID: 38874110 DOI: 10.1002/ijgo.15736] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2024] [Accepted: 06/01/2024] [Indexed: 06/15/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study aimed to explore the relationship between urogenital symptom frequency and severity, perception of vaginal treatment burden, and female sexual desire, arousal, and satisfaction. METHODS A cross-sectional study was conducted with a sample of 326 patients from three tertiary care hospitals in the United Arab Emirates. The frequency and severity of urogenital symptoms, emotional and physical functioning, and treatment burden were assessed using the validated genitourinary syndrome of menopause symptoms and vaginal treatments acceptability questionnaire (GSM-SVATQ). To examine the mediating roles of emotional and physical functioning, as well as the perceived treatment burden on sexual functioning, a partial least squares-structural equation model was developed using the SmartPLS 4 Software. RESULTS The measurement model was successfully established. All constructs had a reliability of > 0.70 and discriminant validity of < 0.90. Emotional, physical and sexual functioning showed an adjusted R2 values of 0.377, 0.282 and 0.169, respectively.The multistep multiple mediator model revealed a full mediation effect of both emotional and physical functioning between symptom, treatment burden and sexual functioning. The model showed high predictive performance with all manifest variables showing lower mean absolute errors compared to the naiive benchmark model. CONCLUSION This study enhances our understanding of the relationships between urogenital symptoms, perceived treatment burden, emotional functioning, and sexual well-being. The findings emphasize the importance of addressing emotional well-being in managing urogenital symptoms and in addressing emotional factors associated with the use of vaginal treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammed M Hassanein
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Hasniza Zaman Huri
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Abduelmula R Abduelkarem
- Department of Pharmacy Practice and Pharmacotherapeutics, College of Pharmacy, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
- Research Institute for Medical and Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
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22
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Wullems JA, Degens H, Morse CI, Onambélé-Pearson GL. Evaluating the effects of hormone therapy termination on skeletal muscle and physical independence in postmenopausal women. Menopause 2024; 31:546-555. [PMID: 38713886 DOI: 10.1097/gme.0000000000002356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/09/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE In women, the age-related decline in skeletal muscle structure and function is accelerated after menopause, which implicates the role of decreased circulating estrogen levels. Indeed, boosting estrogen, by means of postmenopausal hormone therapy (HT), generally proves beneficial to skeletal muscle. The evidence regarding whether these benefits persist even after cessation of HT is limited, nor is it clear how physical behavior (PB) impacts on benefits. Hence, this exploratory study focused on the interplay between HT administration/cessation, PB and in vivo skeletal muscle structure and function. METHODS Fifty healthy women (≥60 y) were included; 19 had an HT administration history (≥9 mo, with now ~8-y hiatus in treatment) and 31 no such history. On seven continuous days, PB data were collected using triaxial accelerometry and analyzed using compositional data analysis. Gastrocnemius medialis muscle volume, architecture, and function were determined using ultrasonography, electromyography, dual x-ray absorptiometry, and dynamometry. Current serum estradiol levels were measured using ELISA. RESULTS Only fascicle length and duration of HT administration were positively associated. With respect to PB levels, we found a pattern suggesting greater vitality (higher physical activity and lower sedentarism) in previous HT users, compared with nonusers, despite the two groups currently no longer exhibiting significantly different levels of circulating estradiol. CONCLUSIONS After an 8-year hiatus in treatment, HT provides limited advantages in gastrocnemius medialis muscle properties. Interestingly, it perhaps enhances vitality despite prolonged cessation, which in the longer term would facilitate greater physical independence, especially considering the association of sedentary behavior with greater frailty.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jorgen Antonin Wullems
- From the Department of Sport and Exercise Sciences, Institute of Sport, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, UK
| | | | - Christopher Ian Morse
- From the Department of Sport and Exercise Sciences, Institute of Sport, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, UK
| | - Gladys Leopoldine Onambélé-Pearson
- From the Department of Sport and Exercise Sciences, Institute of Sport, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, UK
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23
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Wasley D, Gailey S. Menopause and the role of physical activity - The views and knowledge of women aged 40-65. Post Reprod Health 2024; 30:77-84. [PMID: 38393976 PMCID: PMC11188563 DOI: 10.1177/20533691241235273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/25/2024]
Abstract
Menopause marks the end of female reproductive capacity. It is defined as the point after cessation of the menstrual cycle for 12 months (Nursat et al., 2008). Awareness about menopause has increased over the last decade, yet studies have shown that women still lack knowledge regarding the subject. Likewise, awareness of women between the age of 40-65 on the potential role of physical activity prior to and during menopause in women is unclear. Women (n = 162) aged 40-65 years completed a survey rating their knowledge, answered fact-based questions and reported their experiences of menopause. Their levels of, and beliefs on, the role physical activity on symptoms and menopause associated disease risk were also collected. Women reported their confidence in their current knowledge level at 67% reflecting 37% higher rating than an estimate of their knowledge 10 years ago. Their factual knowledge score was 56%. Knowledge was primarily gained through friends and family and almost half (46%) had not spoken to a healthcare professional. Frustration was expressed with lack of knowledge and support of healthcare and others. Women using HRT (44%) had mixed attitudes towards its role. A high proportion were active and felt that physical activity can help manage symptoms and impact long-term health consequences of menopause. Menopause education strategies for women, healthcare professionals and others need to be improved. Lack of education may be causing women to struggle and feel negatively towards this life stage. Physical activity was viewed positively for the symptoms and a treatment during menopause and long-term health.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Wasley
- Cardiff School of Sport and Health Sciences, Cardiff Metropolitan University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Samantha Gailey
- Cardiff School of Sport and Health Sciences, Cardiff Metropolitan University, Cardiff, UK
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24
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Stennett CA, France M, Shardell M, Robbins SJ, Brown SE, Johnston ED, Mark K, Ravel J, Brotman RM. Longitudinal profiles of the vaginal microbiota of pre-, peri-, and postmenopausal women: preliminary insights from a secondary data analysis. Menopause 2024; 31:537-545. [PMID: 38787353 DOI: 10.1097/gme.0000000000002358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Menopause is often accompanied by lowered Lactobacillus spp. relative abundance and increased abundance of diverse anaerobic/aerobic bacteria in the vaginal microbiota due in part to declines in estrogen. These microbiota are associated with urogenital symptoms and infections. In premenopause, vaginal microbiota can fluctuate rapidly, particularly with menstrual cycles and sexual activity; however, the longitudinal dynamics of vaginal microbiota are understudied in peri- and postmenopause. We described vaginal community stability across reproductive stages. METHODS Pre- (n = 83), peri- (n = 8), and postmenopausal (n = 11) participants provided twice-weekly mid-vaginal samples (total, 1,556; average, 15 per participant) over 8 weeks in an observational study. Composition of the vaginal microbiota was characterized by 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing, and a community state type (CST) was assigned to each sample. Clustering of longitudinal CST profiles, CST transition rates, duration of low-Lactobacillus/high bacterial diversity CSTs, and other metrics of bacterial community dynamics were assessed across reproductive stages. RESULTS The proportion of participants with longitudinal CST profiles characterized by low-Lactobacillus CSTs was similar among pre- (38.6%), peri- (37.5%), and postmenopausal (36.4%) participants (P = 0.69). CST transition rates between consecutive samples were 21.1%, 16.7%, and 14.6% for pre-, peri-, and postmenopausal participants, respectively (P = 0.49). Low-Lactobacillus CST tended to persist for at least 4 weeks, irrespective of reproductive stage. CONCLUSIONS Findings from this small yet frequently sampled cohort revealed vaginal bacterial fluctuations over 8 weeks that were similar across reproductive stages. Larger and longer-term studies based on these preliminary data could provide insights into the influence of microbiota dynamics on urogenital outcomes during menopause.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Elizabeth D Johnston
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
| | - Katrina Mark
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
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25
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Dreisler E, Frandsen CS, Ulrich L. Perimenopausal abnormal uterine bleeding. Maturitas 2024; 184:107944. [PMID: 38412750 DOI: 10.1016/j.maturitas.2024.107944] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2023] [Revised: 12/01/2023] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 02/29/2024]
Abstract
Abnormal uterine bleeding is a frequent symptom in the perimenopause. Causes are numerous, ranging from physiological reactions due to decreasing/unstable ovarian function to premalignant and malignant conditions. Benign findings such as endometrial polyps and myomas increase with age, leading to more abnormal uterine bleeding in the perimenopause. Cervical and vaginal causes of abnormal uterine bleeding should be excluded by speculum examination. Sexually transmitted diseases or pregnancy should be ruled out. Measurement of haemoglobin and iron levels, human chorion gonadotropin and thyroid hormones are relevant in selected cases. Transvaginal ultrasound is an ideal first step for the evaluation of perimenopausal abnormal uterine bleeding. Saline or gel contrast sonohysterography improves the diagnostic accuracy. Based on the ultrasound findings, invasive procedures such as endometrial biopsy or hysteroscopy can be planned. Once premalignant and malignant causes are excluded, the necessity for treatment can be evaluated in collaboration with the patient. Heavy menstrual bleeding causing anaemia will need immediate treatment. In less severe cases and in intermenstrual bleeding, expectant management can be considered. Hormonal treatment, such as oral progestogens, combined oral contraceptives or insertion of the levonorgestrel intrauterine system, may be a possibility if anovulatory bleeding is interfering with quality of life. The amount of bleeding can be reduced both by antifibrinolytic and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, progestogens and the levonorgestrel intrauterine system. Focal intrauterine lesions such as endometrial polyps or submucous myomas may require operative hysteroscopic procedures. Endometrial ablation or endometrial resection are good choices in selected cases, but some women will need a hysterectomy to treat their abnormal uterine bleeding in perimenopause.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva Dreisler
- Department of Gynaecology, University of Copenhagen, Rigshospitalet, Blegdamsvej 3, DK-2200 Copenhagen O, Denmark.
| | - Christian Seerup Frandsen
- Department of Gynaecology, University of Copenhagen, Rigshospitalet, Blegdamsvej 3, DK-2200 Copenhagen O, Denmark
| | - Lian Ulrich
- Department of Gynaecology, University of Copenhagen, Rigshospitalet, Blegdamsvej 3, DK-2200 Copenhagen O, Denmark
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Wolf DF, Carvalho C, Moreira Padovez RDFC, Braz de Oliveira MP, Mendes da Silva Serrão PR. Effects of physical exercise on muscle function of the knee, pain and quality of life in postmenopausal women with knee osteoarthritis: A systematic review with meta-analysis. Musculoskelet Sci Pract 2024; 71:102929. [PMID: 38489855 DOI: 10.1016/j.msksp.2024.102929] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2023] [Revised: 02/21/2024] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/17/2024]
Abstract
Objective of this study was to investigate the effects of physical exercise on muscle function of the knee, pain and quality of life in postmenopausal women with knee osteoarthritis (OA). An electronic search was conducted of the PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, LILACS and PEDro databases for relevant articles published up to September 2023. Only randomized clinical trials with interventions involving physical exercise of any modality in postmenopausal women with knee OA were included. This review was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses and the Cochrane Recommendations. Methodological quality of the studies selected was assessed using the PEDro scale and the evidence was synthesized using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation scale. Among the 169 articles identified, five were included in the present systematic review and enabled meta-analysis of the outcomes physical function, pain and stiffness. The findings demonstrated the effectiveness of physical exercise in improving physical function, assessed through the Six-Minute Walk Test and the WOMAC scale's physical function domain, compared to the control group. However, no significant differences were observed in pain or stiffness outcomes between the treatment and control groups. Unfortunately, insufficient data precluded a meta-analysis for knee muscle function and quality of life outcomes. Despite the potential of physical exercise to enhance physical function in postmenopausal women with knee OA, the study highlights a lack of standardization in assessment tools and tests, limiting the feasibility of meta-analysis. PROSPERO REGISTRATION: CRD42022316476.
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Affiliation(s)
- Débora Faria Wolf
- Physical Therapy Department, Federal University of São Carlos, São Carlos, Brazil.
| | - Cristiano Carvalho
- Physical Therapy Department, Federal University of São Carlos, São Carlos, Brazil; Biosciences Department, Federal University of São Paulo, Santos, Brazil.
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Basu S, Maheshwari V, Sodhi B, Mannan P, Kukreti P. The prevalence of depression, determinants, and linkage with functional disability amongst postmenopausal women in India: Evidence from the Longitudinal Ageing Study in India. Asian J Psychiatr 2024; 96:104030. [PMID: 38598934 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajp.2024.104030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2024] [Revised: 03/22/2024] [Accepted: 03/23/2024] [Indexed: 04/12/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The study objective was estimating the prevalence and determinants of depression amongst postmenopausal women in India. Additionally, we used panel mediation analysis to model the extent to which multimorbidity was associated with depression after adjusting for the effects of functional disability in the participants. METHODS Data from 28,160 women aged 50 and above from the Longitudinal Aging Study in India (LASI) Wave 1 were analyzed. Depression was assessed using the Composite International Diagnostic Interview-Short Form (CIDI-SF), with multimorbidity and functional disability (ADL and IADL) considered as key predictor variables. Logistic regression and Karlson-Holm-Breen (KHB) mediation analysis were employed. RESULTS The weighted prevalence of depression among women aged ≥ 50 years was 21.76% (95% CI: 20.81, 22.73), significantly higher women aged < 50 years (17.60%, 95% CI: 16.33, 18.94). Factors independently associated with increased odds of depression included being unmarried, rural residence, and multimorbidity, while higher educational status was associated with lower odds of depression. The relationship between multimorbidity and depression was partially mediated by ADL and IADL disabilities. Notable regional (state) variations in the magnitude of depression were observed. CONCLUSIONS Nearly one in five postmenopausal women in India aged 50 years and older have clinical depression. Community screening for reaching the unreached with primary care mental health strengthening need enhanced policy focus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saurav Basu
- Indian Institute of Public Health - Delhi, Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI), India
| | - Vansh Maheshwari
- Indian Institute of Public Health - Delhi, Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI), India
| | - Baani Sodhi
- Indian Institute of Public Health - Delhi, Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI), India
| | - Pallak Mannan
- Indian Institute of Public Health - Delhi, Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI), India
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28
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Babadi RS, Williams PL, Preston EV, Li Z, Smith RL, Strakovsky RS, Mahalingaiah S, Hauser R, Flaws JA, James-Todd T. Phthalates and sex steroid hormones across the perimenopausal period: A longitudinal analysis of the Midlife Women's Health Study. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2024; 188:108770. [PMID: 38821016 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2024.108770] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2023] [Revised: 05/21/2024] [Accepted: 05/21/2024] [Indexed: 06/02/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The menopausal transition involves significant sex hormone changes. Environmental chemicals, such as urinary phthalate metabolites, are associated with sex hormone levels in cross-sectional studies. Few studies have assessed longitudinal associations between urinary phthalate metabolite concentrations and sex hormone levels during menopausal transition. METHODS Pre- and perimenopausal women from the Midlife Women's Health Study (MWHS) (n = 751) contributed data at up to 4 annual study visits. We quantified 9 individual urinary phthalate metabolites and 5 summary measures (e.g., phthalates in plastics (∑Plastic)), using pooled annual urine samples. We measured serum estradiol, testosterone, and progesterone collected at each study visit, unrelated to menstrual cycling. Linear mixed-effects models and hierarchical Bayesian kernel machine regression analyses evaluated adjusted associations between individual and phthalate mixtures with sex steroid hormones longitudinally. RESULTS We observed associations between increased concentrations of certain phthalate metabolites and lower testosterone and higher sub-ovulatory progesterone levels, e.g., doubling of monoethyl phthalate (MEP), monobenzyl phthalate (MBzP), di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (∑DEHP) metabolites, ∑Plastic, and ∑Phthalates concentrations were associated with lower testosterone (e.g., for ∑DEHP: -4.51%; 95% CI: -6.72%, -2.26%). For each doubling of MEP, certain DEHP metabolites, and summary measures, we observed higher mean sub-ovulatory progesterone (e.g., ∑AA (metabolites with anti-androgenic activity): 6.88%; 95% CI: 1.94%, 12.1%). Higher levels of the overall time-varying phthalate mixture were associated with lower estradiol and higher progesterone levels, especially for 2nd year exposures. CONCLUSIONS Phthalates were longitudinally associated with sex hormone levels during the menopausal transition. Future research should assess such associations and potential health impacts during this understudied period.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan S Babadi
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Paige L Williams
- Department of Biostatistics, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Emma V Preston
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Zhong Li
- Roy J. Carver Biotechnology Center, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Rebecca L Smith
- Department of Pathobiology, Institute for Genomic Biology, and Carle Illinois College of Medicine, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Rita S Strakovsky
- Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA; Institute for Integrative Toxicology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - Shruthi Mahalingaiah
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Russ Hauser
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jodi A Flaws
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, USA; Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Tamarra James-Todd
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA.
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Sergi D, Sanz JM, Trentini A, Bonaccorsi G, Angelini S, Castaldo F, Morrone S, Spaggiari R, Cervellati C, Passaro A. HDL-Cholesterol Subfraction Dimensional Distribution Is Associated with Cardiovascular Disease Risk and Is Predicted by Visceral Adiposity and Dietary Lipid Intake in Women. Nutrients 2024; 16:1525. [PMID: 38794763 PMCID: PMC11124017 DOI: 10.3390/nu16101525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2024] [Revised: 05/16/2024] [Accepted: 05/17/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
HDL-cholesterol quality, including cholesterol distribution in HDL subfractions, is emerging as a key discriminant in dictating the effects of these lipoproteins on cardiovascular health. This study aims at elucidating the relationship between cholesterol distribution in HDL subfractions and CVD risk factors as well as diet quality and energy density in a population of pre- and postmenopausal women. Seventy-two women aged 52 ± 6 years were characterized metabolically and anthropometrically. Serum HDL-C subfractions were quantified using the Lipoprint HDL System. Cholesterol distribution in large HDL subfractions was lower in overweight individuals and study participants with moderate to high estimated CVD risk, hypertension, or insulin resistance. Cholesterol distribution in large, as opposed to small, HDL subfractions correlated negatively with insulin resistance, circulating triglycerides, and visceral adipose tissue (VAT). VAT was an independent positive and negative predictor of cholesterol distribution in large and small HDL subfractions, respectively. Furthermore, an increase in energy intake could predict a decrease in cholesterol levels in large HDL subfractions while lipid intake positively predicted cholesterol levels in small HDL subfractions. Cholesterol distribution in HDL subfractions may represent an additional player in shaping CVD risk and a novel potential mediator of the effect of diet on cardiovascular health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Domenico Sergi
- Department of Translational Medicine, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (D.S.); (S.A.); (F.C.); (S.M.); (R.S.); (C.C.); (A.P.)
| | - Juana Maria Sanz
- Department of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Agricultural Sciences, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Alessandro Trentini
- Department of Environmental and Prevention Sciences, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy;
| | - Gloria Bonaccorsi
- Department of Translational Medicine, Menopause and Osteoporosis Center, University Center for Studies on Gender Medicine, 44121 Ferrara, Italy;
| | - Sharon Angelini
- Department of Translational Medicine, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (D.S.); (S.A.); (F.C.); (S.M.); (R.S.); (C.C.); (A.P.)
| | - Fabiola Castaldo
- Department of Translational Medicine, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (D.S.); (S.A.); (F.C.); (S.M.); (R.S.); (C.C.); (A.P.)
| | - Sara Morrone
- Department of Translational Medicine, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (D.S.); (S.A.); (F.C.); (S.M.); (R.S.); (C.C.); (A.P.)
| | - Riccardo Spaggiari
- Department of Translational Medicine, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (D.S.); (S.A.); (F.C.); (S.M.); (R.S.); (C.C.); (A.P.)
| | - Carlo Cervellati
- Department of Translational Medicine, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (D.S.); (S.A.); (F.C.); (S.M.); (R.S.); (C.C.); (A.P.)
| | - Angelina Passaro
- Department of Translational Medicine, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (D.S.); (S.A.); (F.C.); (S.M.); (R.S.); (C.C.); (A.P.)
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Döner Şİ, Dağ Tüzmen H, Duran B, Sunar F. The effect of aromatherapy massage with lemon and peppermint essential oil on menopausal symptoms: A double-blinded, randomized placebo controlled clinical trial. Explore (NY) 2024; 20:313-318. [PMID: 37743153 DOI: 10.1016/j.explore.2023.09.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2023] [Revised: 09/05/2023] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 09/26/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Menopausal and postmenopausal women experience many physical and psychological symptoms. The positive effects of aromatherapy sessions with different oils on menopausal symptoms are well known. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of an aromatherapy massage with peppermint and lemon essential oil on menopausal symptoms. METHODS Total 63 menopausal and postmenopausal women were included in this study. Participants were randomly divided into three groups: Menta peppermint (n = 21), Citrus lemon (n = 21), and Placebo (n = 21). The peppermint and lemon essential oils of the intervention groups were diluted with 1.5 % sweet almond oil. Pure sweet almond oil was used in the placebo group. Each participant in the massage groups received a hand and arm massage with the selected oil twice a week for 4 weeks in 30-min sessions. Participants' menopausal symptoms were assessed before and after application using the Menopause Symptoms Rating Scale (MRS). RESULTS When the differences in the treatment groups according to time were examined, it was found that there were statistically significant differences in lemon (F = 9.561, p = 0.003, η2 = 0.139) and peppermint essential oil (F = 15.687, p = 0.001, η2 = 0.210) groups according to time. The peppermint essential oil group was more effective than the lemon group. In addition, both peppermint and lemon essential oils were effective for somatic symptoms (p < 0.05). For psychological symptoms, only the lemon oil (p = 0.011) proved effective, and for urogenital symptoms, only the peppermint essential oil (p = 0.001). CONCLUSION The study found that aromatherapy massage with peppermint and lemon essential oil effectively reduced menopausal symptoms. Peppermint essential oil was more effective than lemon essential oil in reducing the menopausal symptoms. THE CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER NCT05677698.
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Affiliation(s)
- Şerife İrem Döner
- Ankara Medipol University, Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Midwifery, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Hafize Dağ Tüzmen
- KTO Karatay University, School of Health Sciences, Department of Midwifery, Konya, Turkey.
| | - Büşra Duran
- KTO Karatay University, School of Health Sciences, Department of Midwifery, Konya, Turkey
| | - Füsun Sunar
- KTO Karatay University, Medical School, Konya, Turkey
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Spector A, Li Z, He L, Badawy Y, Desai R. The effectiveness of psychosocial interventions on non-physiological symptoms of menopause: A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Affect Disord 2024; 352:460-472. [PMID: 38364979 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2024.02.048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2023] [Revised: 02/08/2024] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 02/18/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Menopause, a crucial transitioning stage for women, can significantly impact mood and wellbeing. We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of psychosocial interventions on non-physiological symptoms of menopause (depression, anxiety, cognition, and quality of life) through systematic review and meta-analysis. METHODS Five databases were searched from inception to August 2023 for randomized controlled trials. Pre- and post-test means and standard deviations for groups were extracted and used to calculate effect sizes. The effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Mindfulness-Based Interventions (MBI) on depression and anxiety were examined by subgroup analysis. RESULTS Thirty studies comprising 3501 women were included. From meta-analysis, mood symptoms significantly benefited from CBT (anxiety: d = -0.22, 95 % CI = -0.35, -0.10; depression: d = -0.33, 95 % CI = -0.45, -0.21) and MBI (anxiety: d = -0.56, 95 % CI = -0.74, -0.39; depression: d = -0.27, 95 % CI = -0.45, -0.09). Psychosocial interventions were also found to significantly improve cognition (d = -0.23, 95 % CI = -0.40, -0.06) and quality of life (d = -0.78, 95 % CI = -0.93, -0.63). Mean total therapy hours ('dose') was lower for CBT (11.3) than MBI (18.6), indicating reduced costs and burden for women. LIMITATIONS Data regarding menopausal status were not collected, limiting our ability to identify the optimal timing of interventions. Potential longer-term, effects of interventions were not investigated. CONCLUSION Our review highlighted the value of psychosocial interventions in improving non-physiological symptoms (particularly depression and anxiety) during menopause, noting the heterogeneity of findings and importance of implementing effective interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aimee Spector
- Department of Clinical Health Psychology, University College London, 1-19 Torrington Place, London WC1E 7HB, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
| | - Zishi Li
- Department of Clinical Health Psychology, University College London, 1-19 Torrington Place, London WC1E 7HB, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
| | - Lexi He
- Department of Clinical Health Psychology, University College London, 1-19 Torrington Place, London WC1E 7HB, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
| | - Yasmeen Badawy
- Department of Clinical Health Psychology, University College London, 1-19 Torrington Place, London WC1E 7HB, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
| | - Roopal Desai
- Department of Clinical Health Psychology, University College London, 1-19 Torrington Place, London WC1E 7HB, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
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Wu LY, Hsu HC, Ni LF, Yan YJ, Hwang RJ. Effect of Physical Exercise on Executive Functions Using the Emotional Stroop Task in Perimenopausal Women: A Pilot Study. Behav Sci (Basel) 2024; 14:338. [PMID: 38667134 PMCID: PMC11047564 DOI: 10.3390/bs14040338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2024] [Revised: 04/10/2024] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Exercise has beneficial effects on emotional cognitive control for the majority of the population. However, the impact of exercise on cognitive processes in perimenopausal women remains unclear. Therefore, this study investigated the effect of aerobic exercise on the cognitive processes of perimenopausal women using an emotional Stroop task (EST). METHOD A quasi-experimental pilot study was conducted involving 14 perimenopausal women (Peri-MG) and 13 healthy young women (YG) who completed an EST before and after an aerobic cycling exercise. Mixed-effects models for repeated measures were used to analyze reaction times (RTs) and error rates (ERs) during emotional word processing (positive, negative, and neutral) for both groups. RESULTS Compared with the YG, the Peri-MG showed significantly shortened RTs for positive and negative emotions (p < 0.05) post-exercise, but not for neutral words. In addition, the Peri-MG exhibited significantly increased ERs for negative words at baseline compared with the YG (p < 0.05), but this difference was not observed during the post-exercise test. CONCLUSION The findings suggest that aerobic exercise can enhance executive control performance in perimenopausal women. The Peri-MG exhibited marked behavioral plasticity in the form of reduced bias to salient cues that were significantly more sensitive to alterations due to exercise. This new evidence enhances the understanding of emotional vulnerability and beneficial susceptibility to exercise in perimenopausal women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li-Yu Wu
- Department of Nursing, Chang Gung University of Science and Technology, Taoyuan 333424, Taiwan; (L.-Y.W.); (L.-F.N.); (Y.-J.Y.)
| | - Hsiu-Chin Hsu
- Graduate Institute of Gerontology and Health Care Management, Chang Gung University of Science and Technology, Taoyuan 333424, Taiwan;
- Department of Internal Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan 333423, Taiwan
| | - Lee-Fen Ni
- Department of Nursing, Chang Gung University of Science and Technology, Taoyuan 333424, Taiwan; (L.-Y.W.); (L.-F.N.); (Y.-J.Y.)
- Department of Nursing, Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan 333423, Taiwan
- Clinical Competency Center, Chang Gung University of Science and Technology, Taoyuan 333424, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Jia Yan
- Department of Nursing, Chang Gung University of Science and Technology, Taoyuan 333424, Taiwan; (L.-Y.W.); (L.-F.N.); (Y.-J.Y.)
- Intellectual Property Office, MOEA, Taipei City 100210, Taiwan
| | - Ren-Jen Hwang
- Department of Nursing, Chang Gung University of Science and Technology, Taoyuan 333424, Taiwan; (L.-Y.W.); (L.-F.N.); (Y.-J.Y.)
- Department of Nursing, Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan 333423, Taiwan
- Clinical Competency Center, Chang Gung University of Science and Technology, Taoyuan 333424, Taiwan
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Lee JK, Tran TMC, Choi E, Baek J, Kim HR, Kim H, Yun BH, Seo SK. Association between Daily Dietary Calcium Intake and the Risk of Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) in Postmenopausal Korean Women. Nutrients 2024; 16:1043. [PMID: 38613076 PMCID: PMC11013752 DOI: 10.3390/nu16071043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2024] [Revised: 03/31/2024] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
We aimed to evaluate the association between daily dietary calcium intake and the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in postmenopausal women using data from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). This cross-sectional study included 12,348 women aged 45-70 years who had reached natural menopause. They were classified into three groups according to daily dietary calcium intake: <400 mg, 400-800 mg, and >800 mg. The risks of CVD, stroke, angina, and myocardial infarction were assessed in each group. Further, we performed subgroup analysis according to the post-menopause duration (≤10 vs. >10 postmenopausal years). We performed logistic regression analysis with adjustment for age, menopausal age, income, urban area, education, insulin use, body mass index, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, high alcohol intake, smoking, exercise, oral contraceptive use, and hormonal therapy use. Calcium intake level was not significantly associated with the risk of CVD in the total population and the ≤10 postmenopausal years subgroup. However, in the >10 postmenopausal years subgroup, daily calcium intake >800 mg was associated with significantly decreased risks of all CVD (odds ratio [OR], 0.27; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.11-0.64), stroke (OR, 0.06; 95% CI, 0.01-0.42), and myocardial infarction (OR, 0.27; 95% CI, 0.11-0.64). Our findings suggest that a dietary calcium intake of >800 mg/day decreases the risk of CVD events in women who have been menopausal for >10 years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jae Kyung Lee
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Severance Hospital, Yonsei College of Medicine, 50-1 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea; (J.K.L.); (E.C.); (J.B.); (H.K.)
| | - Thi Minh Chau Tran
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tu Du Hospital, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ho Chi Minh City 700000, Vietnam;
| | - Euna Choi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Severance Hospital, Yonsei College of Medicine, 50-1 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea; (J.K.L.); (E.C.); (J.B.); (H.K.)
| | - Jinkyung Baek
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Severance Hospital, Yonsei College of Medicine, 50-1 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea; (J.K.L.); (E.C.); (J.B.); (H.K.)
| | - Hae-Rim Kim
- College of Natural Science, School of Statistics, University of Seoul, 163 Seoulsiripdae-ro, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul 02504, Republic of Korea;
| | - Heeyon Kim
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Severance Hospital, Yonsei College of Medicine, 50-1 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea; (J.K.L.); (E.C.); (J.B.); (H.K.)
| | - Bo Hyon Yun
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Severance Hospital, Yonsei College of Medicine, 50-1 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea; (J.K.L.); (E.C.); (J.B.); (H.K.)
| | - Seok Kyo Seo
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Severance Hospital, Yonsei College of Medicine, 50-1 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea; (J.K.L.); (E.C.); (J.B.); (H.K.)
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Owens BA, Sabik NJ, Tovar A, Ward-Ritacco CL, Melanson K, Guerrieo Z, Oaks BM. Higher morning cortisol is associated with lower intuitive eating in midlife women. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2024; 162:106958. [PMID: 38218001 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2024.106958] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2023] [Revised: 01/04/2024] [Accepted: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 01/15/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Stress is associated with negative health outcomes in adults, including increased adiposity. Eating behaviors to cope with stress can have a negative effect on adiposity. There is limited research on positive eating behaviors, such as intuitive eating (IE), and their relationship to stress and adiposity. Thus, this study aimed to examine the association between stress and adiposity and to assess whether IE is a mediator of that pathway. METHODS Data were analyzed from a cross-sectional study of 114 women between 40-64 years of age. Participants completed in-person visits and self-reported questionnaires, including the Intuitive Eating Scale and Perceived Stress Scale. Adiposity was assessed using dual energy x-ray absorptiometry. Measurements included total body fat percentage and android/gynoid (AG) ratio as a measure of abdominal adiposity. Participants provided ten salivary cortisol samples over two days, collected upon waking, 30-, 45-, and 60-minutes after waking, and prior to bed. Several methods were used to characterize cortisol secretion and exposure, including the diurnal cortisol slope and the cortisol area under the curve with respect to ground (AUCg). Linear regression was used to assess the associations between perceived stress and IE and between features of diurnal cortisol and IE. Mediation models were tested to examine the indirect effects of IE on the relationship between perceived stress and adiposity and to test the indirect effects of IE on the relationship between cortisol measures and adiposity. RESULTS Linear regression analyses indicated that higher cortisol AUCg was associated with lower scores on the eating for physical reasons subscale (β: -0.01, p = 0.008). After adjusting for covariates, neither higher perceived stress nor diurnal cortisol were associated with intuitive eating. There was no evidence of mediation of the association of stress on adiposity through IE. CONCLUSION Our findings demonstrate a relationship between higher overall morning cortisol and lower scores on the eating for physical reasons subscale of the Intuitive Eating Scale. Future research should seek to understand how intuitive eating may be used as a technique for individuals who engage in emotional eating to cope with stress, and to prevent excess adiposity resulting from stress in midlife women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bridget A Owens
- Department of Nutrition, University of Rhode Island, Fogarty Hall, 41 Lower College Road, Kingston, RI 02881, USA; Military Nutrition Division, US Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, Natick, MA 01760, USA.
| | - Natalie J Sabik
- Department of Health Studies, University of Rhode Island, Independence Square, 25 West Independence Way, Kingston, RI 02881, USA
| | - Alison Tovar
- Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences, Center for Health Promotion and Health Equity, Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, RI 02912, USA
| | - Christie L Ward-Ritacco
- Department of Kinesiology, University of Rhode Island, Independence Square, 25 West Independence Way, Kingston, RI 02881, USA
| | - Kathleen Melanson
- Department of Nutrition, University of Rhode Island, Fogarty Hall, 41 Lower College Road, Kingston, RI 02881, USA
| | - Zachary Guerrieo
- Department of Nutrition, University of Rhode Island, Fogarty Hall, 41 Lower College Road, Kingston, RI 02881, USA
| | - Brietta M Oaks
- Department of Nutrition, University of Rhode Island, Fogarty Hall, 41 Lower College Road, Kingston, RI 02881, USA
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Eyre H, Alba PR, Gibson CJ, Gatsby E, Lynch KE, Patterson OV, DuVall SL. Bridging information gaps in menopause status classification through natural language processing. JAMIA Open 2024; 7:ooae013. [PMID: 38419670 PMCID: PMC10901606 DOI: 10.1093/jamiaopen/ooae013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2023] [Revised: 01/22/2024] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Objective To use natural language processing (NLP) of clinical notes to augment existing structured electronic health record (EHR) data for classification of a patient's menopausal status. Materials and methods A rule-based NLP system was designed to capture evidence of a patient's menopause status including dates of a patient's last menstrual period, reproductive surgeries, and postmenopause diagnosis as well as their use of birth control and menstrual interruptions. NLP-derived output was used in combination with structured EHR data to classify a patient's menopausal status. NLP processing and patient classification were performed on a cohort of 307 512 female Veterans receiving healthcare at the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Results NLP was validated at 99.6% precision. Including the NLP-derived data into a menopause phenotype increased the number of patients with data relevant to their menopausal status by 118%. Using structured codes alone, 81 173 (27.0%) are able to be classified as postmenopausal or premenopausal. However, with the inclusion of NLP, this number increased 167 804 (54.6%) patients. The premenopausal category grew by 532.7% with the inclusion of NLP data. Discussion By employing NLP, it became possible to identify documented data elements that predate VA care, originate outside VA networks, or have no corresponding structured field in the VA EHR that would be otherwise inaccessible for further analysis. Conclusion NLP can be used to identify concepts relevant to a patient's menopausal status in clinical notes. Adding NLP-derived data to an algorithm classifying a patient's menopausal status significantly increases the number of patients classified using EHR data, ultimately enabling more detailed assessments of the impact of menopause on health outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah Eyre
- VA Informatics and Computing Infrastructure, VA Salt Lake City Health Care System, Salt Lake City, UT 84113, United States
- Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, United States
| | - Patrick R Alba
- VA Informatics and Computing Infrastructure, VA Salt Lake City Health Care System, Salt Lake City, UT 84113, United States
- Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, United States
| | - Carolyn J Gibson
- San Francisco VA Healthcare System, San Francisco, CA 94121, United States
- University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94115, United States
| | - Elise Gatsby
- VA Informatics and Computing Infrastructure, VA Salt Lake City Health Care System, Salt Lake City, UT 84113, United States
| | - Kristine E Lynch
- VA Informatics and Computing Infrastructure, VA Salt Lake City Health Care System, Salt Lake City, UT 84113, United States
- Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, United States
| | - Olga V Patterson
- VA Informatics and Computing Infrastructure, VA Salt Lake City Health Care System, Salt Lake City, UT 84113, United States
- Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, United States
| | - Scott L DuVall
- VA Informatics and Computing Infrastructure, VA Salt Lake City Health Care System, Salt Lake City, UT 84113, United States
- Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, United States
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Stuenkel CA. Ovarian Insufficiency: Clinical Spectrum and Management Challenges. J Womens Health (Larchmt) 2024; 33:397-406. [PMID: 38190309 DOI: 10.1089/jwh.2023.0942] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2024] Open
Abstract
The term "ovarian insufficiency" describes the decline of ovarian function resulting in fertility loss and the marked decrease of ovarian steroid hormone production. From a clinical standpoint, ovarian insufficiency presents in three different settings. The first is natural menopause at midlife occurring at the average age of 51 years. The second arises after surgical oophorectomy owing to disease or elective cancer prophylaxis. Finally, primary or premature ovarian insufficiency is characterized by menopause occurring before age 40, often of undetermined etiology, but at times linked with genetic mutations, autoimmune syndromes, metabolic conditions, iatrogenic etiologies, and toxic exposures. Each clinical situation presents unique concerns and management challenges. The majority of women with intact ovaries who live to age 51 experience natural menopause, with early menopause <45 years. In the United States, surgical menopause with bilateral oophorectomy occurs in ∼600,000 women per year. The timing and specific clinical indication for oophorectomy alters management. Primary ovarian insufficiency occurs in 1% of women, although recent estimates suggest the prevalence may be increasing. Symptoms of ovarian insufficiency include hot flashes or vasomotor symptoms, mood disorders, sleep disruption, and vaginal/urinary symptoms. Health concerns include bone, cardiovascular, and cognitive health. Management of symptoms and preventive strategies varies depending upon the age, clinical situation, and specific health concerns of each individual. Treatment options for symptom relief include cognitive behavior therapy and hypnosis, nonhormonal prescription therapies, and hormone therapy. Tailoring the therapeutic approach over time in response to age, emerging medical issues, and patient desires constitutes individualized care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cynthia A Stuenkel
- Department of Medicine, UC San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, California, USA
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Valadares ALR, Hipólito Rodrigues MA. Menopausal women struggling with symptoms at work - a conundrum unsolved? Women Health 2024; 64:295-297. [PMID: 38644573 DOI: 10.1080/03630242.2024.2331263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/23/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Ana L R Valadares
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, State University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, Brazil
| | - Márcio Alexandre Hipólito Rodrigues
- Obstetrics and Gynecology Department School of Medicine, UFMG, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
- Endocrine Gynecology Unit, Hospital Cochin, Paris, France
- Women & Health
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Riedy DR, Ghose SM, Sabet SM, Reid MP, Williams CM, MacPherson A, Dautovich ND. A comprehensive investigation of the association between menopause symptoms and problematic eating behavior in peri- and post-menopause cisgender women. Women Health 2024; 64:317-329. [PMID: 38616232 DOI: 10.1080/03630242.2024.2325559] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2023] [Accepted: 02/23/2024] [Indexed: 04/16/2024]
Abstract
Midlife individuals assigned female at birth are at risk for problematic eating behavior, associated with negative health outcomes. Little is known about how menopausal symptoms may increase risk in this population. The current study aimed to understand how a comprehensive range of menopause symptoms were globally associated with problematic eating behaviors. A total of 281 cisgender women (176 post-menopause, 105 peri-menopause) from the United States aged 40 to 64 were recruited utilizing Prolific, an online survey platform. Participants answered questionnaires about menopause symptoms and problematic eating. Participants were selected using demographic and health information provided in a screener survey. Participants also completed the Eating Disorder Questionnaire (EDE-Q), Women's Health Questionnaire (WHQ), Patient Health Questionnaire-8 (PHQ-8), Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Using Structural Equation Modeling, menopause symptoms explained 16.7 percent of the variance in problematic eating. Higher frequency and severity of anxiety, depression, sleep concerns, cognitive complaints, pain, and vasomotor symptoms was associated with greater frequency and severity of problematic eating behaviors, β = .40, p < .001. Invariance testing showed no significant differences between peri- and postmenopausal women. These findings support the association between menopause symptoms and problematic eating in Midlife cisgender women and highlight the need for continued investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dana R Riedy
- VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, USA
| | - Sarah M Ghose
- Department of Psychology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, USA
| | - Sahar M Sabet
- Department of Psychology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, USA
| | - Morgan P Reid
- Department of Psychology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, USA
| | - Claire M Williams
- Department of Psychology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, USA
| | - Ashley MacPherson
- Department of Psychology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, USA
| | - Natalie D Dautovich
- Department of Psychology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, USA
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Saarinen T, Savukoski SM, Pesonen P, Vaaramo E, Laitinen J, Varanka-Ruuska T, Ala-Mursula L, Niinimäki M. Climacteric status at age 46 is associated with poorer work ability, lower 2-year participation in working life, and a higher 7-year disability retirement rate: a Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966 study. Menopause 2024; 31:275-281. [PMID: 38412401 DOI: 10.1097/gme.0000000000002327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/29/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To study the association between an advanced climacteric status at 46 years of age and current perceived work ability, the consequent 2-year accumulation of disability and unemployment days, and the 7-year incidence of disability pensions. METHODS Study participants (n = 2,661) were recruited from the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966 study's 46-year follow-up in 2012. The participants' perceived work ability was investigated using the Work Ability Score (0-7 = poor vs 8-10 = good), along with potential covariates. Data concerning their consequent disability days, unemployment days, and disability pensions were collected from national registers. The association between their climacteric status at age 46 years, work ability, and working life participation was assessed using regression models. RESULTS The climacteric women were more often smokers and more often had a lower level of education. The odds ratio for poor perceived work ability was 1.41 (95% CI, 1.06-1.87), and the incidence rate ratios for disability and unemployment days during the 2-year follow-up were 1.09 (95% CI, 1.07-1.11) and 1.16 (95% CI, 1.14-1.18), respectively, for the climacteric women compared with the preclimacteric women in models adjusted for smoking and education. The 7-year hazard ratio for disability pensions was 1.72 (95% CI, 1.02-2.91) for the climacteric women. CONCLUSIONS An earlier menopausal transition is associated with poorer perceived work ability, and it predicts lower recorded work participation and a higher disability pension rate in subsequent years.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Paula Pesonen
- Northern Finland Birth Cohorts, Infrastructure for Population Studies, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Eeva Vaaramo
- Northern Finland Birth Cohorts, Infrastructure for Population Studies, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Jaana Laitinen
- Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Helsinki, Finland
| | | | - Leena Ala-Mursula
- Research Unit of Population Health, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
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Hickey M, LaCroix AZ, Doust J, Mishra GD, Sivakami M, Garlick D, Hunter MS. An empowerment model for managing menopause. Lancet 2024; 403:947-957. [PMID: 38458214 DOI: 10.1016/s0140-6736(23)02799-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2022] [Revised: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 03/10/2024]
Abstract
Menopause eventually happens to all people with typically functioning ovaries, and almost one billion women worldwide are postmenopausal. Although the biology of typical menopause is ubiquitous, the experience varies substantially. Factors contributing to the experience include not only individual factors, such as the nature and severity of symptoms, but also psychological, social, and contextual considerations, many of which are modifiable. In this first paper in the Lancet Series on menopause, we argue for a new approach that goes beyond the treatment of specific symptoms, to encompass a broad model to support women transitioning this life stage, using the model of empowerment. WHO defines empowerment as an active process of gaining knowledge, confidence, and self-determination to self-manage health and make informed decisions about care. Rather than focusing on menopause as an endocrine deficiency, we propose an empowerment model that recognises factors modifying the experience, in which the patient is an expert in their own condition and the health-care worker supports the patient to become an equal and active partner in managing their own care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martha Hickey
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Newborn Health, University of Melbourne and the Royal Women's Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
| | - Andrea Z LaCroix
- Department of Epidemiology, Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Jennifer Doust
- Centre for Longitudinal and Life Course Research, School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Gita D Mishra
- NHMRC Centre for Research Excellence in Women and NCDs, School of Public Health, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Muthusamy Sivakami
- School of Health Systems Studies, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai, India
| | | | - Myra S Hunter
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
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Mosconi L, Williams S, Carlton C, Zarate C, Boneu C, Fauci F, Ajila T, Nerattini M, Jett S, Andy C, Battista M, Pahlajani S, Osborne J, Brinton RD, Dyke JP. Sex-specific associations of serum cortisol with brain biomarkers of Alzheimer's risk. Sci Rep 2024; 14:5519. [PMID: 38448497 PMCID: PMC10918173 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-56071-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2024] [Accepted: 03/01/2024] [Indexed: 03/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Emerging evidence implicates chronic psychological stress as a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD). Herein, we examined the relationships between serum cortisol and multimodality brain AD biomarkers in 277 cognitively normal midlife individuals at risk for AD. Overall, higher cortisol was associated with lower total brain volume, lower glucose metabolism (CMRglc) in frontal cortex, and higher β-amyloid (Aβ) load in AD-vulnerable regions; and marginally associated with phosphocreatine to ATP ratios (PCr/ATP) in precuneus and parietal regions. Sex-specific modification effects were noted: in women, cortisol exhibited stronger associations with Aβ load and frontal CMRglc, the latter being more pronounced postmenopause. In men, cortisol exhibited stronger associations with gray matter volume and PCr/ATP measures. Higher cortisol was associated with poorer delayed memory in men but not in women. Results were adjusted for age, Apolipoprotein E (APOE) epsilon 4 status, midlife health factors, and hormone therapy use. These results suggest sex-specific neurophysiological responses to stress, and support a role for stress reduction in AD prevention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Mosconi
- Department of Neurology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10021, USA.
- Department of Radiology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Schantel Williams
- Department of Neurology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10021, USA
| | - Caroline Carlton
- Department of Neurology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10021, USA
| | - Camila Zarate
- Department of Neurology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10021, USA
| | - Camila Boneu
- Department of Neurology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10021, USA
| | - Francesca Fauci
- Department of Neurology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10021, USA
| | - Trisha Ajila
- Department of Neurology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10021, USA
| | - Matilde Nerattini
- Department of Neurology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10021, USA
- Department of Clinical Pathophysiology, Nuclear Medicine Unit, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Steven Jett
- Department of Neurology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10021, USA
| | - Caroline Andy
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Michael Battista
- Department of Neurology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10021, USA
| | - Silky Pahlajani
- Department of Neurology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10021, USA
- Department of Radiology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Joseph Osborne
- Department of Radiology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Roberta Diaz Brinton
- Department of Neurology and Pharmacology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Jonathan P Dyke
- Department of Radiology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
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Rehman A, Lathief S, Charoenngam N, Pal L. Aging and Adiposity-Focus on Biological Females at Midlife and Beyond. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:2972. [PMID: 38474226 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25052972] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2023] [Revised: 02/10/2024] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Menopause is a physiological phase of life of aging women, and more than 1 billion women worldwide will be in menopause by 2025. The processes of global senescence parallel stages of reproductive aging and occur alongside aging-related changes in the body. Alterations in the endocrine pathways accompany and often predate the physiologic changes of aging, and interactions of these processes are increasingly being recognized as contributory to the progression of senescence. Our goal for this review is to examine, in aging women, the complex interplay between the endocrinology of menopause transition and post-menopause, and the metabolic transition, the hallmark being an increasing tendency towards central adiposity that begins in tandem with reproductive aging and is often exacerbated post menopause. For the purpose of this review, our choice of the terms 'female' and 'woman' refer to genetic females.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amna Rehman
- Department of Internal Medicine, Berkshire Medical Center, Pittsfield, MA 02101, USA
| | - Sanam Lathief
- Division of Endocrinology, Mount Auburn Hospital, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Nipith Charoenngam
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Department of Medicine, Mount Auburn Hospital, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10700, Thailand
| | - Lubna Pal
- Division of Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
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Ferreira L, Abrantes C, Alves ME, Moreira C, Moreira H. Effects of exercise programs on cardiorespiratory fitness and arterial stiffness on postmenopausal women: A systematic review study. Maturitas 2024; 181:107917. [PMID: 38277884 DOI: 10.1016/j.maturitas.2024.107917] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2023] [Revised: 01/11/2024] [Accepted: 01/14/2024] [Indexed: 01/28/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Arterial stiffness is an important marker of cardiovascular disease, with a considerable increase in menopause. The impact of exercise, as a preventive measure, on controlling the progression of cardiovascular disease and arterial dysfunction in middle age remains under investigation. OBJECTIVE This systematic review aims to present the results of studies that examined the effects of different exercise programs (isolated, aerobic, and resistance or combined) on arterial stiffness and cardiorespiratory fitness in postmenopausal women. METHODS Based on PRISMA guidelines, B-On, BioMed, EBSCOhost, MEDLINE, ScienceOpen, PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane library and LILACS databases were searched using specific keywords. RESULTS A final total of 13 manuscripts were included in the qualitative synthesis, involving 700 participants. Four studies used only cardiorespiratory exercise, three only resistance, taekwondo class or flexibility exercise, and six combined exercise programs. Most interventions ranged from 3 to 5 days per week. Carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity showed improvements between 0.22 m/s and 1.56 m/s. In addition, one study showed an improvement of 4.4 ml/kg/min in maximal oxygen consumption. In 7 studies, participation in exercise programs improved arterial stiffness. CONCLUSIONS Combined exercise (aerobic and resistance exercise) and aerobic exercise alone (swimming) improve cardiorespiratory fitness and arterial stiffness in postmenopausal women, particularly pulse wave velocity. The combined exercise program is the most effective, promoting improvements of up to -2.6 m/s in pulse wave velocity in this climacteric phase.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luís Ferreira
- Department of Sports Science, Douro Higher Institute of Educational Sciences, CI-ISCE, 4560-708 Penafiel, Portugal; University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, 5001-801 Vila-Real, Portugal.
| | - Catarina Abrantes
- Department of Sports Science, Exercise and Health, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, CIDESD, 5001-801 Vila-Real, Portugal
| | - Maria Emília Alves
- Department of Sports Science, Douro Higher Institute of Educational Sciences, CI-ISCE, 4560-708 Penafiel, Portugal; CIAFEL, 4200-450 Porto, Portugal
| | - Carlos Moreira
- University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, 5001-801 Vila-Real, Portugal
| | - Helena Moreira
- Department of Sports Science, Exercise and Health, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, CIDESD, 5001-801 Vila-Real, Portugal; CITAB, 5001-801 Vila Real, Portugal
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Mateikaitė-Pipirienė K, Jean D, Paal P, Horakova L, Kriemler S, Rosier AJ, Andjelkovic M, Beidleman BA, Derstine M, Hefti JP, Hillebrandt D, Keyes LE. Menopause and High Altitude: A Scoping Review-UIAA Medical Commission Recommendations. High Alt Med Biol 2024; 25:1-8. [PMID: 37922458 DOI: 10.1089/ham.2023.0039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Mateikaitė-Pipirienė, Kastė, Dominique Jean, Peter Paal, Lenka Horakova, Susi Kriemler, Alison J. Rosier, Marija Andjelkovic, Beth A. Beidleman, Mia Derstine, Jacqueline Pichler Hefti, David Hillebrandt, and Linda E. Keyes for the UIAA MedCom writing group on Women's Health in the Mountains. Menopause and high altitude: A scoping review-UIAA Medical Commission Recommendations. High Alt Med Biol. 25:1-8, 2024. Background: Older people are an important fraction of mountain travelers and climbers, many of them postmenopausal women. The aim of this work was to review health issues that older and postmenopausal women may experience at high altitude, including susceptibility to high-altitude illness. Methods: We performed a scoping review for the UIAA Medical Commission series on Women's Health in the mountains. We searched PubMed and Cochrane libraries and performed an additional manual search. The primary search focused on articles assessing lowland women sojourning at high altitude. Results: We screened 7,165 potential articles. The search revealed three relevant articles, and the manual search another seven articles and one abstract. Seven assessed menopausal low-altitude residents during a high-altitude sojourn or performing hypoxic tests. Four assessed high-altitude residents. We summarize the results of these 11 studies. Conclusions: Data are limited on the effects of high altitude on postmenopausal women. The effects of short-term, high-altitude exposure on menopause symptoms are unknown. Menopause has minimal effect on the physiological responses to hypoxia in physically fit women and does not increase the risk of acute mountain sickness. Postmenopausal women have an increased risk of urinary tract infections, which may be exacerbated during mountain travel. More research is needed on the physiology and performance of older women at high altitude.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kastė Mateikaitė-Pipirienė
- Medical Commission of the International Climbing and Mountaineering Federation (UIAA), Bern, Switzerland
- Diaverum Clinics, Elektrėnai Division, Lithuania
| | - Dominique Jean
- Medical Commission of the International Climbing and Mountaineering Federation (UIAA), Bern, Switzerland
- Paediatrics, Infectious Diseases and Altitude Medicine, Grenoble, France
| | - Peter Paal
- Medical Commission of the International Climbing and Mountaineering Federation (UIAA), Bern, Switzerland
- Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, St. John of God Hospital, Paracelesus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Lenka Horakova
- Medical Commission of the International Climbing and Mountaineering Federation (UIAA), Bern, Switzerland
- Department of Biomedical Technology, Faculty of Biomedical Engineering, Czech Technical University in Prague, Kladno, Czech Republic
| | - Susi Kriemler
- Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Prevention Institute, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Alison J Rosier
- Medical Commission of the International Climbing and Mountaineering Federation (UIAA), Bern, Switzerland
| | - Marija Andjelkovic
- Medical Commission of the International Climbing and Mountaineering Federation (UIAA), Bern, Switzerland
- Pharmacy, Singidunum University, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Beth A Beidleman
- US Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, Military Performance Division, Natick MA
| | - Mia Derstine
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Colorado, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | | | - David Hillebrandt
- Medical Commission of the International Climbing and Mountaineering Federation (UIAA), Bern, Switzerland
- General Medical Practitioner, Holsworthy, Devon, United Kingdom
| | - Linda E Keyes
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Colorado, Aurora, Colorado, USA
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Chow H, Righton O, Berry H, Bell Z, Flynn AC. A systematic review of community pharmacy interventions to improve peri- and post-menopausal health. Post Reprod Health 2024; 30:55-63. [PMID: 38185857 PMCID: PMC10928954 DOI: 10.1177/20533691231223681] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2024]
Abstract
Menopause is defined as the permanent cessation of menstruation due to loss of ovarian follicular function. Symptoms include mood disorders, vaginal atrophy, hot flashes and night sweats and can emerge during a gradual transition period called perimenopause. Community pharmacies are well placed to deliver a wide range of healthcare services, including supporting and educating menopausal women; however, to date, no systematic review has assessed the effectiveness of community pharmacy-led interventions in improving peri- and post-menopausal health. In accordance with PRISMA guidelines we evaluated community pharmacy-led interventions that targeted women in peri- or post-menopause. Electronic searches in EMBASE, MEDLINE, CINAHL and Cochrane Library were conducted on 13th February 2023. Additionally, we examined the included studies references and citation lists using Google Scholar. A total of 915 articles were identified and screened against the inclusion criteria. Two studies were included; one identified post-menopausal women at risk of developing osteoporosis (OP), and one evaluated the outcomes of a community pharmacy-based menopause education programme. Study one found 11 (11%) post-menopausal women were at risk of developing OP based on quantitative ultrasound screening offered by community pharmacists and referred to their physician. Study two reported that women had access to adequate personalised menopause counselling and increased knowledge of menopause topics because of the educational programme within community pharmacies. Both studies were of low quality. The lack of included studies reflects the need for high-quality research to determine whether community pharmacy-led interventions are feasible, effective and acceptable, to improve health outcomes of peri- or post-menopausal women.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Chow
- Department of Women & Children’s Health, School of Life Course & Population Sciences, King’s College London, London, UK
| | - O Righton
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, School of Life Course & Population Sciences, King’s College London, London, UK
| | - H Berry
- Centre for Pharmacy Postgraduate Education (CPPE), University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Z Bell
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, School of Life Course & Population Sciences, King’s College London, London, UK
| | - AC Flynn
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, School of Life Course & Population Sciences, King’s College London, London, UK
- School of Population Health, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland
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Gulati M, Brewer G, Judge A, Kennedy D, Vincent TL, Watt FE. Could sex-specific subtypes of hand osteoarthritis exist? A retrospective study in women presenting to secondary care. FRONTIERS IN PAIN RESEARCH 2024; 5:1331187. [PMID: 38410176 PMCID: PMC10895010 DOI: 10.3389/fpain.2024.1331187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 02/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Hand osteoarthritis is more common in women, and its risk increases around the time of the menopause. We set out to describe the timing between menopause and the onset of symptomatic hand osteoarthritis (OA), and associations with the use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) or its discontinuation, describing any identifiable subgroups of women. Methods Retrospective healthcare-records study of sequential women referred to a specialist hand OA clinic, 2007-2015. Confirmation of hand OA diagnosis was by clinican, by accepted criteria. Demographics and clinical variables were from healthcare-records, recorded by standardised proforma. Outcomes of interest were reported age of onset of hand symptoms, reported age at final menstrual period (FMP), time from FMP to reported onset of hand symptoms and time from cessation of HRT to reported onset of hand symptoms. Exposure categories for systemic HRT use were never users, current users, previous users. Analysis of Variance compared groups; linear regression analysed associations of exposure with outcome. Results 82/92(89%) of eligible women were post-menopausal, mean age at FMP 49.9 years (SD5.4). In these post-menopausal women, median time from FMP to hand symptom onset was 3 years. 48/82 (59%) developed hand symptoms within the defined peri-menopausal period (FMP ± 4 years), whilst some women developed their symptoms before or after (range -25, 30 years). In women who discontinued HRT prior to symptom onset, the median time from HRT cessation to onset of hand symptoms was 6 months. Past HRT users were older at hand symptom onset than women who had not taken HRT [coeff.4.7 years (0.92, 8.39); P = 0.015]. Conclusions This study adds to evidence associating the menopause/sex hormone deficiency with hand OA symptom onset in a sizeable subgroup of women (but not all). HRT use/cessation appears to influence the timing of onset of hand OA symptoms. It is not possible to interpret from this type of study whether sex hormone deficiency is causative of disease or modulates its symptoms. It is also not possible to judge whether painful hand osteoarthritis in post-menopausal women is a subtype of disease. Further investigation is indicated of sex-specific subtypes and potential for personalised medicine for post-menopausal women with hand osteoarthritis, as a clearly definable high-risk subgroup.
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Affiliation(s)
- Malvika Gulati
- Centre for Osteoarthritis Pathogenesis Versus Arthritis, Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences (NDORMS), University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Department of Rheumatology, Charing Cross Hospital, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Gretchen Brewer
- Centre for Osteoarthritis Pathogenesis Versus Arthritis, Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences (NDORMS), University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew Judge
- Musculoskeletal Research Unit, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
- Centre for Statistics in Medicine, Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- National Institute for Health Research Bristol Biomedical Research Centre (NIHR Bristol BRC), University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Donna Kennedy
- Therapies Department, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Tonia L. Vincent
- Centre for Osteoarthritis Pathogenesis Versus Arthritis, Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences (NDORMS), University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Department of Rheumatology, Charing Cross Hospital, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Fiona E. Watt
- Centre for Osteoarthritis Pathogenesis Versus Arthritis, Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences (NDORMS), University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Department of Rheumatology, Charing Cross Hospital, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom
- Department of Immunology & Inflammation, Hammersmith Campus, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
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Robbins SJ, Brown SE, Stennett CA, Tuddenham S, Johnston ED, Wnorowski AM, Ravel J, He X, Mark KS, Brotman RM. Uterine fibroids and longitudinal profiles of the vaginal microbiota in a cohort presenting for transvaginal ultrasound. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0296346. [PMID: 38315688 PMCID: PMC10843103 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0296346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 02/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Bacterial vaginosis, characterized in part by low levels of vaginal Lactobacillus species, has been associated with pro-inflammatory cytokines which could fuel uterine fibroid development. However, prior work on the associations between uterine fibroids and vaginal bacteria is sparse. Most studies have focused on assessment of individual taxa in a single sample. To address research gaps, we sought to compare short, longitudinal profiles of the vaginal microbiota in uterine fibroid cases versus controls with assessment for hormonal contraceptives (HCs), a possible confounder associated with both protection from fibroid development and increases in Lactobacillus-dominated vaginal microbiota. This is a secondary analysis of 83 reproductive-age cisgender women who presented for transvaginal ultrasound (TVUS) and self-collected mid-vaginal swabs daily for 1-2 weeks before TVUS (Range: 5-16 days, n = 697 samples). Sonography reports detailed uterine fibroid characteristics (N = 21 cases). Vaginal microbiota was assessed by 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing and longitudinal microbiota profiles were categorized by hierarchical clustering. We compared longitudinal profiles of the vaginal microbiota among fibroid cases and controls with exact logistic regression. Common indications for TVUS included pelvic mass (34%) and pelvic pain (39%). Fibroid cases tended to be older and report Black race. Cases less often reported HCs versus controls (32% vs. 58%). A larger proportion of cases had low-Lactobacillus longitudinal profiles (48%) than controls (34%). In unadjusted analysis, L. iners-dominated and low-Lactobacillus profiles had higher odds of fibroid case status compared to other Lactobacillus-dominated profiles, however these results were not statistically significant. No association between vaginal microbiota and fibroids was observed after adjusting for race, HC and menstruation. Results were consistent when number of fibroids were considered. There was not a statistically significant association between longitudinal profiles of vaginal microbiota and uterine fibroids after adjustment for common confounders; however, the study was limited by small sample size.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah J. Robbins
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
- Institute for Genome Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States of America
| | - Sarah E. Brown
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
- Institute for Genome Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States of America
| | - Christina A. Stennett
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
- Institute for Genome Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States of America
| | - Susan Tuddenham
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Elizabeth D. Johnston
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Amelia M. Wnorowski
- Diagnostic Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Jacques Ravel
- Institute for Genome Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States of America
| | - Xin He
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Katrina S. Mark
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Rebecca M. Brotman
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
- Institute for Genome Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States of America
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Norris CM, Tegg NL, Ahmed SB, Gingara S, Green BJ, Gresiuk C, Henriquez M, Mulvagh SL, Van Damme A, Myburgh C, Graham MM. Women's Heart Health and the Menopausal Transition: Two Faces of the Same Coin. CJC Open 2024; 6:327-333. [PMID: 38487041 PMCID: PMC10935676 DOI: 10.1016/j.cjco.2023.09.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 09/23/2023] [Indexed: 03/17/2024] Open
Abstract
The impact of the presence or absence of sex hormones on women's health is woefully underresearched. Fundamentally, women's bodies are now understood to spend considerable time under widely fluctuating hormonal influences, including puberty, pregnancy, peripartum, and menopause, and a woman's vessels are therefore preset for functional and physiological alterations based on levels of sex hormones. However, our understanding of the influences of sex hormones on the regulation of a multitude of biological and physiological processes has not translated into the development and/or collection or analyses of data on therapeutic treatments and/or outcomes in the context of women's disease management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Colleen M. Norris
- Faculty of Nursing, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
- Cavarzan Chair in Mature Women’s Research, WCHRI, AWHF, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
- Faculty of Medicine, School of Public Health Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Nicole L. Tegg
- Faculty of Nursing, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Sofia B. Ahmed
- Faculty of Medicine, School of Public Health Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Sharon Gingara
- Member of Canadian Women's Heart Health Alliance with lived experience, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Bobbi-Jo Green
- Member of Canadian Women's Heart Health Alliance with lived experience, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | | | - Maya Henriquez
- Faculty of Nursing, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | | | - Andrea Van Damme
- Division of Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Caitlynd Myburgh
- Faculty of Nursing, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
- Faculty of Natural Sciences, The Kings University, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Michelle M. Graham
- Division of Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
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O'Neill SM, Travers CM, Otahal P, Khoo SK, Sharman JE. Menopause and accelerated aortic stiffness. Maturitas 2024; 180:107900. [PMID: 38101308 DOI: 10.1016/j.maturitas.2023.107900] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2023] [Revised: 11/05/2023] [Accepted: 12/03/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The menopausal transition is widely believed to increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, based on the notion that estrogen is cardioprotective in women. While aortic stiffness is an independent predictor of cardiovascular disease, it has been unclear whether this risk increases during menopause. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to determine the association between changes in menopausal status and aortic stiffness. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Menopausal status was classified using the Stages of Reproductive Aging in Women criteria in a stratified random sample of Australian women aged 40-80 years, at three time-points over 14 years (n = 469 in 2001-02 and 2005, and n = 323 in 2014). Aortic stiffness was measured non-invasively via carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity at each time point. Mixed modeling was employed to determine the independent associations between menopausal status and aortic stiffness accounting for multiple covariates including age, systolic blood pressure, heart rate, medications, cholesterol, waist circumference, smoking and diabetes status. RESULTS There was no evidence to support an association between the menopausal transition and an acceleration of aortic stiffness. However, there was an acceleration of aortic stiffness in the late (8+ years) postmenopause phase, after accounting for age and traditional cardiovascular risk factors (0.122 [95%CI: 0.106, 0.139] m/s/year; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS The menopausal transition is not associated with major changes in aortic stiffness beyond normal age-related effects. However, the clinically significant acceleration in aortic stiffness observed in late postmenopause may contribute to greater cardiovascular risk in this later life phase. Study registered in the Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry, reference ACTRN12618000005257.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheila M O'Neill
- Betty Byrne Henderson Women's Health Research Centre, Royal Brisbane & Women's Hospital, Brisbane, Australia; Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia. sheila.o'
| | - Catherine M Travers
- Betty Byrne Henderson Women's Health Research Centre, Royal Brisbane & Women's Hospital, Brisbane, Australia; School of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Queensland Australia, Australia
| | - Petr Otahal
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Australia
| | - Soo-Keat Khoo
- Betty Byrne Henderson Women's Health Research Centre, Royal Brisbane & Women's Hospital, Brisbane, Australia; Mayne Academy of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Queensland, Australia
| | - James E Sharman
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Australia
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50
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Kim C, Lane A, Vu THT, Lewis CB, Yin Z, Jiang H, Auchus RJ, Schreiner PJ. Prospective early adulthood risk factors for vasomotor symptoms in the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults study. Menopause 2024; 31:108-115. [PMID: 38270902 PMCID: PMC10827353 DOI: 10.1097/gme.0000000000002306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Previous studies have assessed potential risk factors for vasomotor symptoms (VMS) beginning in midlife. We examined whether early adulthood risk factors predict VMS trajectories over time. METHODS We performed a secondary data analysis of the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) study, a population-based cohort. We included women who answered questions about VMS at three or more examinations (n = 1,966). We examined whether risk factors at baseline (when participants were aged 18-30 y; average age, 25 y) and the year 15 (Y15) exam (at ages 33-45 y; average age, 40 y) were associated with VMS trajectories from Y15 through Y35. Logistic regression models were used to evaluate the associations with VMS trajectories. RESULTS We identified three trajectories of VMS presence: minimal (40%), increasing over time (27%), and persistent (33%). Baseline factors associated with persistent VMS over time included Black race, less than a high school education, depressive symptoms, migraines, cigarette use, and at Y15 hysterectomy. Baseline factors associated with increasing VMS over time included Black race and lower body mass index. Risk factors for bothersome VMS were similar and also included thyroid disease, although thyroid disease was not associated with persistence of VMS over time. Associations were similar among women who had not undergone hysterectomy and in Black and White women. CONCLUSIONS Risk factors for VMS may be identified in early adulthood. Further examination of risk factors such as migraines and depressive symptoms in early adulthood may be helpful in identifying therapies for VMS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine Kim
- Departments of Medicine, Obstetrics & Gynecology, and Epidemiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Abbi Lane
- Department of Kinesiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Thanh-Huyen T. Vu
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Cora B. Lewis
- Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Alabama, Birmingham, Alabama
| | - Zhe Yin
- Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Hui Jiang
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | | | - Pamela J. Schreiner
- Division of Epidemiology & Community Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
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