title: The Association Between Vulvovaginal Atrophy Symptoms and Quality of Life Among Postmenopausal Women in the United States and Western Europe.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Vulvovaginal atrophy (VVA) is a condition associated with decreased estrogenization of the vaginal tissue, which can result in vaginal dryness, irritation, and dyspareunia. This study quantified the burden associated with VVA symptoms across the United States and Europe and compared this burden with other chronic conditions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were analyzed from the International Women's Health Study, a cross-sectional Internet survey of women aged 40-75 years in the United States and Europe. All postmenopausal women aged 40-75 years were included in the analyses (Germany n=970, Spain n=294, France n=1054, Italy n=387, United Kingdom n=1096, United States n=3267). VVA symptom severity (none, mild, moderate, severe) was assessed using the Menopause Rating Scale and included in general linear models to predict EuroQol-5D (EQ-5D) quality of life scores.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of VVA symptoms varied between 40.00% (Germany) and 54.42% (Spain), with half of women reporting their symptoms as either moderate or severe. Pooling data from all countries together, each incremental level of severity (none through severe) was associated with a significant decrement in EQ-5D scores (none=0.84 vs. mild=0.81 vs. moderate=0.79 vs. severe=0.74; p<0.05). The decrements in EQ-5D scores associated with moderate to severe VVA symptoms were comparable to those observed in other serious conditions including arthritis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, and irritable bowel syndrome.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  VVA symptoms are associated with clinically meaningful decrements in quality of life that may be comparable to serious conditions such as arthritis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, and irritable bowel syndrome. Improved management of VVA symptoms may be required to alleviate the impact of VVA on the quality of life of affected women.
authors.affiliation: 1 Kantar Health , New York, New York.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: DiBonaventura
authors.affiliation: 2 Pfizer Inc., Groton, Connecticut.
authors.forename: Xuemei
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.affiliation: 3 Pfizer Inc., New York, New York.
authors.forename: Margaret
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Moffatt
authors.affiliation: 2 Pfizer Inc., Groton, Connecticut.
authors.forename: Andrew G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Bushmakin
authors.affiliation: 1 Kantar Health , New York, New York.
authors.forename: Maya
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.affiliation: 4 Pfizer Inc., Collegeville, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Joel
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bobula
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001284:Atrophy / Q000473:pathology*; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004414:Dyspareunia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008875:Middle Aged; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000523:psychology*; D015995:Prevalence; D011788:Quality of Life; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014621:Vagina / Q000473:pathology*; D014623:Vaginal Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology*; D014844:Vulva / Q000473:pathology*; D014845:Vulvar Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology*