The menopause symptom profile of Maori and non-Maori women in New Zealand.
OBJECTIVE
To describe menopause symptoms in postmenopausal Maori and non-Maori New Zealand women, and explore relationships between symptoms, sociodemographic profile and hormone replacement therapy (HRT) use.


METHODS
Cross-sectional analysis of data collected during recruitment of women from 27 primary-care practices into an observational study and the international WISDOM trial of postmenopausal HRT.


RESULTS
A total of 3616 women aged 49-70 years (mean 58.9 years) were recruited between 1999 and 2004. Maori and non-Maori participants differed in demographic and clinical characteristics, but few differences were observed in the frequency of menopause-related symptoms. Vasomotor symptoms (hot flushes and/or night sweats) were reported by 34.4% of women, with no statistically significant difference between Maori and non-Maori (controlling for demographic variables, p > 0.05). Compared to non-Maori, Maori were less likely to have ever used HRT (24% vs. 54%), and only 5% of Maori reported current HRT use compared to 30% of non-Maori (p < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Maori and non-Maori have the same rate of self-reported vasomotor symptoms despite differences in factors thought to influence the experience of menopause symptoms. Differences in HRT use between Maori and non-Maori need to be further explored to identify contributing factors and whether, in turn, these factors impact on quality of life.
Lawton
B A
BA
Women's Health Research Centre, University of Otago, Wellington, New Zealand.
Rose
S B
SB
Cormack
D M
DM
Stanley
J
J
Dowell
A C
AC
D000368:Aged; D001294:Attitude to Health / Q000208:ethnology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006694:Holistic Health; D019584:Hot Flashes / Q000208:ethnology*; D006801:Humans; D008593:Menopause / Q000208:ethnology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009520:New Zealand / Q000453:epidemiology; D011788:Quality of Life; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013546:Sweating