Hirschberg Angelica Lindén, Polo-Kantola Päivi, Øverlie Inger, Løkkegaard Ellen, Cockburn Elinor, Rea Carol, Kim Janet S
Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet and Department of Gynecology and Reproductive Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Turku University Hospital and University of Turku, Turku, Finland.
Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand. 2025 May 1. doi: 10.1111/aogs.15139.
The objectives of this study were to evaluate the prevalence and impact of moderate to severe vasomotor symptoms (VMS) on quality of life, sleep, work, and daily activities. We also assessed treatment patterns for VMS, lifestyle changes to mitigate VMS, and attitudes toward available treatments and menopause.
Women from Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden aged 40-65 years completed an online survey as part of a larger multinational study. The primary outcome, prevalence of moderate to severe VMS, was assessed in postmenopausal women. Secondary outcomes, including the impact of VMS on quality of life (Menopause-Specific Quality of Life [MENQoL] questionnaire), sleep (Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System [PROMIS] Sleep Disturbances- Short Form 8b), and work and daily activities (Work Productivity and Activity Impairment [WPAI] questionnaire) were assessed in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women experiencing ≥1 moderate to severe hot flush per day in the prior month. Additionally, survey questions evaluated treatment patterns, lifestyle changes, and opinions toward VMS treatment and menopause in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women.
Among 6383 postmenopausal women (primary analysis population), 739 (11.6%) experienced moderate to severe VMS regardless of whether they were receiving treatment. Among 863 symptomatic perimenopausal and postmenopausal women (secondary analysis population), VMS impaired quality of life and sleep. Work and daily activities were impaired by 24.2% and 30.6%, respectively. Around 35% of women sought advice; however, most women (>60%) reported not taking any treatment for VMS. Among those treating VMS, supplements and nonprescription medications were the most common treatments (19.2%); 12.9% of women reported taking menopausal hormone therapy. Over half of women reported taking over-the-counter treatments; 77.8% adopted lifestyle changes to mitigate VMS. One in 4 women (25.6%) expressed concerns about menopausal hormone therapy side effects; 49.5% of women who had used nonmenopausal hormone therapy prescription medication stopped for lack of efficacy. Many women strongly agreed that menopause is a natural part of aging.
Over 10% of postmenopausal Nordic women reported suffering from moderate to severe VMS. VMS impaired the quality of life, sleep, work productivity, and daily activities among perimenopausal and postmenopausal Nordic women, emphasizing the need for effective and well-tolerated treatments.
本研究的目的是评估中度至重度血管舒缩症状（VMS）的患病率及其对生活质量、睡眠、工作和日常活动的影响。我们还评估了VMS的治疗模式、减轻VMS的生活方式改变，以及对现有治疗方法和更年期的态度。
来自丹麦、芬兰、挪威和瑞典的40-65岁女性完成了一项在线调查，作为一项更大规模跨国研究的一部分。主要结局指标，即中度至重度VMS的患病率，在绝经后女性中进行评估。次要结局指标，包括VMS对生活质量（更年期特异性生活质量[MENQoL]问卷）、睡眠（患者报告结局测量信息系统[PROMIS]睡眠障碍-简表8b）以及工作和日常活动（工作效率和活动受损[WPAI]问卷）的影响，在过去一个月中每天经历≥1次中度至重度潮热的围绝经期和绝经后女性中进行评估。此外，调查问题评估了围绝经期和绝经后女性的治疗模式、生活方式改变以及对VMS治疗和更年期的看法。
在6383名绝经后女性（主要分析人群）中，739名（11.6%）经历了中度至重度VMS，无论她们是否正在接受治疗。在863名有症状的围绝经期和绝经后女性（次要分析人群）中，VMS损害了生活质量和睡眠。工作和日常活动分别有24.2%和30.6%受到影响。约35%的女性寻求过建议；然而，大多数女性（>60%）报告未对VMS采取任何治疗措施。在治疗VMS的女性中，补充剂和非处方药是最常见的治疗方法（19.2%）；12.9%的女性报告使用了更年期激素疗法。超过一半的女性报告使用非处方治疗；77.8%的女性采取了生活方式改变以减轻VMS。四分之一的女性（25.6%）对更年期激素疗法的副作用表示担忧；49.5%使用过非更年期激素疗法处方药的女性因缺乏疗效而停药。许多女性强烈认同更年期是衰老的自然阶段。
超过10%的北欧绝经后女性报告患有中度至重度VMS。VMS损害了北欧围绝经期和绝经后女性的生活质量、睡眠、工作效率和日常活动，强调了需要有效且耐受性良好的治疗方法。
