title: Predictors of menopausal hot flashes.
abstract: There are limited data on the factors associated with menopausal hot flashes, a common and potentially morbid condition. The objective of this study was to identify predictors of menopausal hot flashes. To meet this objective, 233 naturally perimenopausal or post-menopausal women (ages 45-65) attending a large urban hospital center primary care clinic, mammography unit, or women's health practice were enrolled. The women responded to a self-administered questionnaire assessing selected demographic factors, reproductive history, and behavioral factors. Sixty-seven percent of respondents experienced hot flashes, with 63% reporting frequent hot flashes (at least one hot flash per day) and 60% with hot flashes describing the hot flashes as severe. Women with hot flashes were significantly more likely to have mothers who experienced hot flashes (OR = 4.4, CI = 2.0-10.0) or to be smokers (OR = 2.0, CI = 1.2-3.5). There were no statistically significant associations between hot flashes and other selected demographic, reproductive, or behavior characteristics. These results reveal that menopausal hot flashes are associated with a maternal history of hot flashes as well as with cigarette smoking. These results may help physicians to counsel their patients about smoking cessation.
authors.affiliation: Baltimore Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Maryland, USA.
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Staropoli
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Flaws
authors.forename: T L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Bush
authors.forename: A W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Moulton
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D019584:Hot Flashes / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008593:Menopause / Q000502:physiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015995:Prevalence; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires