title: Relation of demographic and lifestyle factors to symptoms in a multi-racial/ethnic population of women 40-55 years of age.
abstract: A community-based survey was conducted during 1995-1997 of factors related to menopausal and other symptoms in a multi-racial/ethnic sample of 16,065 women aged 40-55 years. Each of seven sites comprising the Study of Women's Health across the Nation (SWAN) surveyed one of four minority populations and a Caucasian population. The largest adjusted prevalence odds ratios for all symptoms, particularly hot flashes or night sweats (odds ratios = 2.06-4.32), were for women who were peri- or postmenopausal. Most symptoms were reported least frequently by Japanese and Chinese (odds ratios = 0.47-0.67 compared with Caucasian) women. African-American women reported vasomotor symptoms and vaginal dryness more (odds ratios = 1.17-1.63) but urine leakage and difficulty sleeping less (odds ratios = 0.64-0.72) than Caucasians. Hispanic women reported urine leakage, vaginal dryness, heart pounding, and forgetfulness more (odds ratios = 1.22-1.85). Hot flashes or night sweats, urine leakage, and stiffness or soreness were associated with a high body mass index (odds ratios = 1.15-2.18 for women with a body mass index > or =27 vs. 19-26.9 kg/m2). Most symptoms were reported most frequently among women who had difficulty paying for basics (odds ratios = 1.15-2.05), who smoked (odds ratios = 1.21-1.78), and who rated themselves less physically active than other women their age (odds ratios = 1.24-2.33). These results suggest that lifestyle, menstrual status, race/ethnicity, and socioeconomic status affect symptoms in this age group.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, University of California, Davis 95616, USA. ebgold@ucdavis.edu
authors.forename: E B
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Gold
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sternfeld
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Kelsey
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mouton
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Reame
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Salamone
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Stellato
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003710:Demography; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D019584:Hot Flashes; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008593:Menopause; D008875:Middle Aged; D010809:Physical Fitness; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking; D016387:Women's Health