title: [Climacteric syndrome in a Northeastern Brazilian city: a household survey].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the prevalence of Climacteric Syndrome (CS) in women from a municipality of Northeastern Brazil which is less developed socioeconomically.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective household survey was performed in São Luís, Maranhão, Brazil with 1,210 climacteric women aged 45 to 60 years. Interviews were applied using previously tested standard questionnaires from April to July 2008. The severity of climacteric symptoms was analyzed by circulatory and psychological indexes and the latter were associated with menopausal status. Multiple correspondence analysis was used to assess the relation among climacteric symptoms.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Most patients were 55 to 60 years old (35.3%), mulatto (37.9%), with 9-11 years of schooling (39.8%), with a partner (56%), Catholic (73.9%) and belonged to the socioeconomic class C (51.1%). The prevalence of CS was 85.9%, and hot flashes (56.4%) and sweating (50.4%) were the most prevalent symptoms. The most frequent psychological symptoms were nervousness (45%) and emotional liability (44.8%). The severity of vasomotor and psychological symptoms was significantly higher during the peri and postmenopausal period (p<0.05). Vaginal dryness (62.7%) was the most prevalent urogenital complaint.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of CS was high among women from São Luís, Maranhão, Brazil.
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Saúde Materno-Infantil, Universidade Federal do Maranhão, São Luís, MA, Brasil.
authors.forename: Elizabeth Santos de Andrade
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Malheiros
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Saúde Materno-Infantil, Universidade Federal do Maranhão, São Luís, MA, Brasil.
authors.forename: Maria Bethânia da Costa
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Chein
authors.affiliation: Curso de Graduação em Medicina, Universidade Federal do Maranhão, São Luís, MA, Brasil.
authors.forename: Diego Salvador Muniz
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: da Silva
authors.affiliation: Curso de Graduação em Medicina, Universidade Federal do Maranhão, São Luís, MA, Brasil.
authors.forename: Caroline Louise Lima
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Dias
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brasil.
authors.forename: Luiz Gustavo Oliveira
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Brito
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Tocoginecologia, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brasil.
authors.forename: Aarão Mendes
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Pinto-Neto
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Saúde Materno-Infantil, Universidade Federal do Maranhão, São Luís, MA, Brasil.
authors.forename: Luciane Maria Oliveira
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Brito
mesh_terms: D001938:Brazil; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008593:Menopause; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013577:Syndrome; D014504:Urban Health