title: Variability of bothersome menopausal symptoms over time--a longitudinal analysis using the Estonian postmenopausal hormone therapy trial (EPHT).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Very little data are available on the natural course or level of disturbance of vasomotor symptoms among middle-aged women. Using readily collected trial data we studied the persistence of vasomotor symptoms among untreated women.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a trial comparing combined hormone therapy to placebo or no treatment (control groups), a cohort of women aged 50-59 at recruitment were followed annually by questionnaires. Women in the control groups (n = 486) were grouped by the number of years followed, with the prevalence and severity of symptoms calculated both cross-sectionally and longitudinally.
  
  
  RESULTS
  About two thirds of the women (67%) reported vasomotor symptoms and half (46%) bothersome symptoms at recruitment. In the cross-sectional analysis, their prevalence declined between recruitment and 1-year follow-up (32% bothersome symptoms) and 2-year follow-up (27%). Thereafter it remained about the same level. In the longitudinal analysis, there was a notable variation in the prevalence of disturbing vasomotor symptoms over time, time entering the study and the compliance to the surveys. In the two groups having most follow-up times, the proportion of women with bothersome symptoms first increased and then decreased.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There was a notable variability in the development of disturbing vasomotor symptoms over time in a selected group of women aged 50-59. Population-based follow-up studies of untreated women would be useful to estimate the symptom burden.
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), Helsinki, Finland. elina.hemminki@thl.fi
authors.forename: Elina
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hemminki
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Regushevskaya
authors.forename: Riitta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Luoto
authors.forename: Piret
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Veerus
mesh_terms: D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004957:Estonia; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy; D004967:Estrogens / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D019584:Hot Flashes / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D017258:Medroxyprogesterone Acetate / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008593:Menopause; D008875:Middle Aged; D017698:Postmenopause; D015995:Prevalence; D011788:Quality of Life; D012647:Self-Assessment; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014666:Vasomotor System / Q000187:drug effects; D016387:Women's Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
chemical_list: D004967:Estrogens; D017258:Medroxyprogesterone Acetate