title: The impact of menopause on health-related quality of life: results from the STRIDE longitudinal study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We examine the impact of menopausal status, beyond menopausal symptoms, on health-related quality of life (HRQoL).
  
  
  METHODS
  Seven hundred thirty-two women aged 40-65, regardless of health condition or menopausal status, were enrolled from single general internal medicine practice. Women completed annual questionnaires including HRQoL, and menopausal status and symptoms.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The physical health composite of the RAND-36 is lower in late peri (45.6, P < .05), early post (45.4, P < .05), and late postmenopausal women (44.6, P < .01), and those who report a hysterectomy (44.2, P < .01) compared to premenopausal women (47.1), with effect sizes of Cohen's d = .12-.23. The mental health composite of the RAND-36 is lower in late peri (44.7, P < .01), early post (44.9, P < .01), and late postmenopausal women (45.0, P < .05) and those who report a hysterectomy (44.2, P < .01) compared to premenopausal women (46.8), with effect sizes of Cohen's d = .15-.20. Findings are comparable adjusted for menopausal symptom frequency and bother.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Over a 5-year follow-up period, we found a negative impact of menopause on some domains of HRQoL, regardless of menopausal symptoms. Clinicians should be aware of this relationship and work to improve HRQoL, rather than expect it to improve spontaneously when menopausal symptoms resolve.
authors.affiliation: Division of General Internal Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, 230 McKee Place, Suite 600, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA. rah67@pitt.edu
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hess
authors.forename: Rebecca C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Thurston
authors.forename: Ron D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Hays
authors.forename: Chung-Chou H
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Stacey N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Dillon
authors.forename: Roberta B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Ness
authors.forename: Cindy L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Bryce
authors.forename: Wishwa N
authors.initials: WN
authors.lastname: Kapoor
authors.forename: Karen A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Matthews
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008593:Menopause / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States