title: Moderate-Severe Vasomotor Symptoms Are Associated with Moderate-Severe Depressive Symptoms.
abstract: The association between menopausal vasomotor symptoms (VMS) and depressive symptoms remains controversial. We aimed to examine the associations between moderate-severe VMS and moderate-severe depressive symptoms.
  
  
  
  Nationally representative cross-sectional survey of 2,020 noninstitutionalized Australian women aged 40-65 randomly recruited between October 2013 and March 2014. Symptoms were assessed by the Menopause-Specific Quality of Life Questionnaire, the Beck Depression Inventory-II, with score ≥20 defined as moderate-severe depressive symptoms. Cigarette, alcohol, and psychotropic medication use was also assessed. Binge drinking was defined as four standard drinks on one occasion.
  
  
  
  VMS were classified as moderate-severe for 267 of the 2,020 women (13.3%). After adjusting for multiple factors, including age, partnership status, paid employment, housing insecurity, and body mass index, when compared to women with no or mild VMS, women with moderate-severe VMS were more likely to have moderate-severe depressive symptoms (odds ratio [OR] 2.80, confidence interval [95% CI], 2.01-3.88, p < 0.001). Having moderate-severe depressive symptoms was associated with a greater likelihood of use of psychotropic medications (48.9%, 95% CI, 43.1-54.8 vs. 20.1%, 95% CI, 18.2-22.1, p < 0.001), smoking (25.9%, 95% CI, 20.8-30.9 vs. 12.2%, 95% CI, 10.6-13.7, p < 0.001), and binge drinking at least weekly (15.1%, 95% CI, 11.0-19.2 vs. 10.3% 95% CI, 8.8-11.7, p = 0.015).
  
  
  
  Moderate-severe VMS are independently and significantly associated with moderate-severe depressive symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Women's Health Research Program, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University , Melbourne, Australia .
authors.forename: Roisin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Worsley
authors.affiliation: Women's Health Research Program, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University , Melbourne, Australia .
authors.forename: Robin J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Bell
authors.affiliation: Women's Health Research Program, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University , Melbourne, Australia .
authors.forename: Pragya
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gartoulla
authors.affiliation: Women's Health Research Program, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University , Melbourne, Australia .
authors.forename: Penelope J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Robinson
authors.affiliation: Women's Health Research Program, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University , Melbourne, Australia .
authors.forename: Susan R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Davis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D019584:Hot Flashes / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008593:Menopause / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013546:Sweating
keywords: alcohol; depression; menopause; psychotropic medication; smoking; vasomotor symptoms