Asian study of effects of premenstrual symptoms on activities of daily life.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this paper is to assess the effects of premenstrual symptoms on quality of life as measured by the impact symptoms have on women's activities of daily life (ADL).

STUDY DESIGN

Cross-sectional survey. Population-based, face-to-face interview with 1202 women aged 15-49 years recruited by random sampling in cities of Hong Kong, Pakistan and Thailand. Main outcome measures Checklist of 23 premenstrual symptoms, sociodemographic and lifestyle variables, ADL: overall impact of premenstrual symptoms on ADL and impact on each of six ADL areas. Regression analysis measured the impact of premenstrual symptoms and sociodemographic factors on ADL.

RESULTS

Premenstrual physical and mental symptom domains had similar negative effects on ADL. Seventy-four percent of women were not affected or minimally affected in ADL, 17% had a clinically significant effect on ADL and 9% were severely affected in ADL. ADL were predominantly affected by premenstrual symptom severity. Oral contraceptive pill users and women living in Pakistan reported less impact on ADL, while married women report more impact of symptoms on ADL.

CONCLUSIONS

The severity of premenstrual symptoms was found to have a significant impact on ADLs with the type of activity affected, reflecting how women predominantly spend their time in the different cultures studied.