title: Application of the 10-item Cervantes Scale among mid-aged Ecuadorian women for the assessment of menopausal symptoms.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The majority of instruments used to evaluate menopausal symptoms are long and complex. In this sense, more simple tests are being designed to rapidly obtain a snapshot of the global clinical picture.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess menopausal symptoms in mid-aged women using the short 10 item version of the original menopause Cervantes Scale (CS-10).
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a cross sectional study in which a total of 451 Ecuadorian women (40-59 years) were surveyed with the CS-10 and a general socio-demographic questionnaire containing personal and partner data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Median age of the whole sample was 48 years. A 41.2% were postmenopausal, 44.3% abdominally obese (waist circumference >88cm), 6% diabetic, 16.9% hypertense, 11.5% smoked, 6.9% currently used hormone therapy, 9.5% phytoestrogens and 6.7% psychotropic drugs. For the entire sample, median [interquartile range] CS-10 global scores were 10.0 [9.5], and for pre-, peri- and postmenopausal women: 5.0 [7.0], 11.0 [9.0] and 13.5 [8.0], respectively. The CS-10 displayed good internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha 0.87). According to the CS-10, the three most prevalent menopausal symptoms were: muscle and joint pains (88.5%), hot flushes (77.6%) and skin dryness (71.4%). Multiple linear regression analysis found that postmenopausal status, parity, unhealthy perceived status, psychotropic drug use, partner erectile dysfunction, lower coital frequency and living at high altitude were related to higher CS-10 global scores.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this mid-aged Ecuadorian female sample severity of menopausal symptoms, as determined by the CS-10, were related to environmental and female/partner personal and socio-demographical aspects.
authors.affiliation: Writing Group for the National Research Project sponsored by the Ecuadorian Climacteric and Menopause Society (SECLIM), Ecuador. Electronic address: peter.chedraui@cu.ucsg.edu.ec.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chedraui
authors.affiliation: Writing Group for the National Research Project sponsored by the Ecuadorian Climacteric and Menopause Society (SECLIM), Ecuador.
authors.forename: Faustino R
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Pérez-López
authors.affiliation: Writing Group for the National Research Project sponsored by the Ecuadorian Climacteric and Menopause Society (SECLIM), Ecuador.
authors.forename: Hugo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sánchez
authors.affiliation: Writing Group for the National Research Project sponsored by the Ecuadorian Climacteric and Menopause Society (SECLIM), Ecuador.
authors.forename: Priscila
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sánchez
authors.affiliation: Writing Group for the National Research Project sponsored by the Ecuadorian Climacteric and Menopause Society (SECLIM), Ecuador.
authors.forename: Octavio
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Miranda
authors.affiliation: Writing Group for the National Research Project sponsored by the Ecuadorian Climacteric and Menopause Society (SECLIM), Ecuador.
authors.forename: Paulina
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Quispe
authors.affiliation: Writing Group for the National Research Project sponsored by the Ecuadorian Climacteric and Menopause Society (SECLIM), Ecuador.
authors.forename: Teddy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Madero-Trelles
authors.affiliation: Writing Group for the National Research Project sponsored by the Ecuadorian Climacteric and Menopause Society (SECLIM), Ecuador.
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hidalgo
authors.affiliation: Writing Group for the National Research Project sponsored by the Ecuadorian Climacteric and Menopause Society (SECLIM), Ecuador.
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Arboleda
authors.affiliation: Writing Group for the National Research Project sponsored by the Ecuadorian Climacteric and Menopause Society (SECLIM), Ecuador.
authors.forename: Gabriela
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: López
authors.affiliation: Writing Group for the National Research Project sponsored by the Ecuadorian Climacteric and Menopause Society (SECLIM), Ecuador.
authors.forename: Juan C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Quintero
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018771:Arthralgia / Q000453:epidemiology; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003075:Coitus / Q000502:physiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology; D004484:Ecuador / Q000453:epidemiology; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D020249:Hormone Replacement Therapy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019584:Hot Flashes / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008593:Menopause / Q000502:physiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D063806:Myalgia / Q000453:epidemiology; D056128:Obesity, Abdominal / Q000453:epidemiology; D010298:Parity; D047648:Perimenopause / Q000502:physiology; D048789:Phytoestrogens / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000502:physiology; D017697:Premenopause / Q000502:physiology; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D048789:Phytoestrogens; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs
keywords: 10-item Cervantes Scale; Ecuadorian women; Menopausal symptoms; Mid-age; Quality of life