Freeman E W, Sherif K
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Pennsylvania 19104, USA.
Climacteric. 2007 Jun;10(3):197-214. doi: 10.1080/13697130601181486.
Many studies have evaluated the relationships between ethnicity and culture, prevalence of menopausal symptoms, and attitudes toward them, but few have assessed menopausal symptoms across cultures world-wide. This paper aims to systematically review the prevalence of hot flushes and night sweats, two prevalent symptoms of menopause, across the menopausal stages in different cultures and considers potential explanations for differences in prevalence rates.
Sixty-six papers formed the basis for this review. Studies were organized by geographic region, and results are presented for North America, Europe, East Asia, Southeast Asia, Australia, Latin America, South Asia, Middle East, and Africa. Studies were included if they provided quantitative information on the occurrence of hot flushes. This report focuses on hot flushes and night sweats, the most common menopausal symptoms reported in epidemiologic studies.
Studies reviewed indicate that vasomotor symptoms are highly prevalent in most societies. The prevalence of these symptoms varies widely and may be influenced by a range of factors, including climate, diet, lifestyle, women's roles, and attitudes regarding the end of reproductive life and aging. Patterns in hot flush prevalence were apparent for menopausal stages and, to a lesser degree, for regional variation.
Caregivers should recognize that variations exist and ask patients specific questions about symptoms and their impact on usual functioning.
许多研究评估了种族与文化、更年期症状的患病率以及对这些症状的态度之间的关系，但很少有研究评估全球不同文化背景下的更年期症状。本文旨在系统回顾潮热和盗汗这两种常见的更年期症状在不同文化的更年期各阶段的患病率，并探讨患病率差异的潜在原因。
66篇论文构成了本综述的基础。研究按地理区域进行组织，并呈现了北美、欧洲、东亚、东南亚、澳大利亚、拉丁美洲、南亚、中东和非洲的研究结果。如果研究提供了关于潮热发生情况的定量信息，则纳入本报告。本报告聚焦于潮热和盗汗，这是流行病学研究中报告的最常见的更年期症状。
综述的研究表明，血管舒缩症状在大多数社会中都非常普遍。这些症状的患病率差异很大，可能受到一系列因素的影响，包括气候、饮食、生活方式、女性角色以及对生殖生命结束和衰老的态度。潮热患病率在更年期各阶段呈现出明显的模式，在一定程度上也存在区域差异。
护理人员应认识到存在差异，并向患者询问有关症状及其对日常功能影响的具体问题。
