title: [Prevalence and factors associated with hot flashes in climacteric and post-climacteric women].
abstract: A cross-sectional study was conducted on the prevalence of hot flashes and associated factors among women from 40 to 69 years old, from a population-based sample in the city of Pelotas, southern Brazil. A multi-stage sampling process was used, and data were collected through an interview and a self-applied questionnaire. A total of 879 women were included. Point prevalence and lifetime prevalence were 30.1% and 53.2%, respectively. Factors associated with hot flashes were: pre-menopausal status (RP = 2.33) and post-menopausal status (RP = 2.66); age 45-49 years (RP = 1.34) and 50-54 years (RP = 1.42); lower social class (RP = 2.16); no use of a hormonal contraception method after 40 years of age (RP = 1.40); obesity (RP = 1.39) and overweight (RP = 1.32); and not having a partner (RP = 0.80). High prevalence of this symptom indicates that health facilities should be prepared to deal with problems encountered by climacteric women.
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, Brazil. ikt@conesul.com.br
authors.forename: Iândora Krolow Timm
authors.initials: IK
authors.lastname: Sclowitz
authors.forename: Iná da Silva dos
authors.initials: Ida S
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.forename: Mariângela Freitas da
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Silveira
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002979:Climacteric / Q000502:physiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D019584:Hot Flashes / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008875:Middle Aged; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000502:physiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires