Impaired quality of life among middle aged women: a multicentre Latin American study.
BACKGROUND
Several studies indicate that quality of life (QoL) is impaired in middle aged women. Assessment of QoL using a single validated tool in Latin American climacteric women has not been reported to date at large scale.


OBJECTIVE
The Menopause Rating Scale (MRS) was used to assess QoL among middle aged Latin American women and determine factors associated with severe menopausal symptoms (QoL impairment).


METHODS
In this cross-sectional study, 8373 healthy women aged 40-59 years, accompanying patients to healthcare centres in 18 cities of 12 Latin American countries, were asked to fill out the MRS and a questionnaire containing socio-demographic, female and partner data.


RESULTS
Mean age of the entire sample was 49.1+/-5.7 years (median 49), a 62.5% had 12 or less years of schooling, 48.8% were postmenopausal and 14.7% were on hormonal therapy (HT). Mean total MRS score (n=8373) was 11.3+/-8.5 (median 10); for the somatic subscale, 4.1+/-3.4; the psychological subscale, 4.6+/-3.8 and the urogenital subscale, 2.5+/-2.7. The prevalence of women presenting moderate to severe total MRS scorings was high (>50%) in all countries, Chile and Uruguay being the ones with the highest percentages (80.8% and 67.4%, respectively). Logistic regression determined that impaired QoL (severe total MRS score > or =17) was associated with the use of alternatives therapies for menopause (OR: 1.47, 95% CI [1.22-1.76], p=0.0001), the use of psychiatric drugs (OR: 1.57, 95% CI [1.29-1.90], p=0.0001), attending a psychiatrist (OR: 1.66, 95% CI [1.41-1.96], p=0.0001), being postmenopausal (OR: 1.48, 95% CI [1.29-1.69, p=0.0001]), having 49 years or more (OR: 1.24, 95% CI [1.08-1.42], p=0.001), living at high altitude (OR: 1.43, 95% CI [1.25-1.62, p=0.0001]) and having a partner with erectile dysfunction (OR: 1.69, 95% CI [1.47-1.94, p=0.0001]) or premature ejaculation (OR: 1.34, 95% CI [1.16-1.55, p=0.0001]). Lower risk for impaired QoL was related to living in a country with a lower income (OR: 0.77, 95% CI [0.68-0.88], p=0.0002), using HT (OR: 0.65, 95% CI [0.56-0.76], p=0.0001) and engaging in healthy habits (OR: 0.59, 95% CI [0.50-0.69], p=0.0001).


CONCLUSIONS
To the best of our knowledge this is the first and largest study assessing QoL in a Latin American climacteric series with a high prevalence of impairment related to individual female and male characteristics and the demography of the studied population.
Chedraui
Peter
P
Instituto para la Salud de la Mujer, Vélez 616y García, Guayaquil, Ecuador. institutochedraui@gmail.com
Blümel
Juan E
JE
Baron
German
G
Belzares
Emma
E
Bencosme
Ascanio
A
Calle
Andres
A
Danckers
Luis
L
Espinoza
Maria T
MT
Flores
Daniel
D
Gomez
Gustavo
G
Hernandez-Bueno
Jose A
JA
Izaguirre
Humberto
H
Leon-Leon
Patricia
P
Lima
Selva
S
Mezones-Holguin
Edward
E
Monterrosa
Alvaro
A
Mostajo
Desire
D
Navarro
Daysi
D
Ojeda
Eliana
E
Onatra
William
W
Royer
Monique
M
Soto
Edwin
E
Tserotas
Konstantinos
K
D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007843:Latin America; D008297:Male; D008593:Menopause / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*