Physical and mental health: changes during menopause transition.
OBJECTIVE
To measure changes in physical and mental health in six groups of women defined by menopausal status or use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT).


METHODS
Longitudinal study with 2 years follow-up.


METHODS
Eight thousand six hundred and twenty three women participating in the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health, aged 45-50 years in 1996.


METHODS
Changes in the eight dimensions of the Short Form General Health Survey (SF-36) adjusted for baseline scores, lifestyle, behavioural and demographic factors.


RESULTS
At baseline, mean scores for five of the eight dimensions of the SF-36 were highest (indicating better state of health or well-being) in premenopausal women. There were declines (that is, worsening health) in the SF-36 dimensions in most groups of women. Declines were largest in physical functioning (adjusted mean change of -4.9, standard error (SE) 0.7) and physical role limitation (-5.7, SE: 1.3) in women who remained peri-menopausal throughout the study period and in women taking HRT at the time of either survey (physical functioning: -5.3 (0.7), role physical limitation: -7.5 (1.2)). They were smallest in women who remained pre-menopausal (physical functioning: -3.2 (0.7); role physical limitation: -2.1 (1.1)).


CONCLUSIONS
Physical aspects of general health and well-being decline during the menopausal transition. Sensitive measures and careful analysis are needed to understand why these changes are worse for peri-menopausal women and those taking HRT.
Mishra
Gita D
GD
Research Centre for Gender and Health, University of Newcastle, Australia. gita.mishra@mrc-hnr.cam.ac.uk
Brown
Wendy J
WJ
Dobson
Annette J
AJ
D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006304:Health Status; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D020249:Hormone Replacement Therapy; D006801:Humans; D008593:Menopause; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D016387:Women's Health