Menopause symptoms in women infected with HIV: prevalence and associated factors.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the prevalence and factors associated with menopause symptoms in HIV-infected women.


METHODS
A cross-sectional study of two groups of women was conducted: 96 with HIV and 155 without HIV. Women aged 40 years or older, non-users of hormone therapy in the last 6 months and native Brazilians were included. The prevalence of menopause symptoms was calculated according to the studied variables. Symptoms were grouped into six categories: vasomotor, psychological, genitourinary, weight gain, palpitations and insomnia. The generalized estimating equation model was applied to identify the factors associated with menopause symptoms in all women and for HIV-infected women only.


RESULTS
The mean (+/-standard deviation) age of women with and without HIV was 48.9 +/- 7.4 and 51.0 +/- 8.7 years (p = 0.07), respectively. The median age at menopause for HIV-infected women was 47.5 years. Menopause symptoms were more frequent in HIV-infected women, highlighting psychological and vasomotor symptoms. HIV infection was associated with menopause symptoms (odds ratio (OR) = 1.65, p = 0.03), as well as age ranging from 45 to 54 years (OR = 1.77, p = 0.01), higher parity (OR = 2.38, p = 0.01) and self-perception of health as fair/poor (OR = 2.07, p < 0.01). Among HIV-infected women, the likelihood of presenting symptoms decreased in those aged 55 or older (OR = 0.16, p = 0.03) and increased in retired women (OR = 2.61, p = 0.02).


CONCLUSIONS
Menopause symptoms were common in HIV-infected women. HIV infection was independently associated with menopause symptoms, whereas age and being retired were associated with the occurrence of these symptoms in HIV-infected women.
Ferreira
Carlos Eduardo
CE
Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, Brazil.
Pinto-Neto
Aarão Mendes
AM
Conde
Délio Marques
DM
Costa-Paiva
Lúcia
L
Morais
Sirlei Siani
SS
Magalhães
Jarbas
J
D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008593:Menopause / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors