International Journal of
Reproductive Biomedicine
Sat, Dec 21, 2024
[Archive]
Volume 19, Issue 9 (September 2021)
IJRM 2021, 19(9): 789-800 |
Back to browse issues page
Download citation:
BibTeX | RIS | EndNote | Medlars | ProCite | Reference Manager | RefWorks
Send citation to:
BibTeX | RIS | EndNote | Medlars | ProCite | Reference Manager | RefWorks
Send citation to:
Ahmadieh H, Jradi N. Prevalence of menopausal hot flashes in Lebanon: A cross-sectional study. IJRM 2021; 19 (9) :789-800
URL: http://ijrm.ir/article-1-1440-en.html
URL: http://ijrm.ir/article-1-1440-en.html
1- Department of Internal Medicine, Beirut Arab University, Beirut, Lebanon. , hala.ahmadieh@bau.edu.lb
2- Department of Internal Medicine, Beirut Arab University, Beirut, Lebanon.
2- Department of Internal Medicine, Beirut Arab University, Beirut, Lebanon.
Abstract: (1607 Views)
Background: Menopausal hot flashes or vasomotor symptoms are prevalent and could be debilitating in postmenopausal women. There is controversy regarding the risk factors for hot flashes, some of which may vary from one country or culture to another.
Objective: To shed light on this matter by assessing the prevalence of hot flashes, their effect on quality of life, and their association with certain factors such as physical exercise, caffeine, spicy food consumption, dietary intake, smoking, alcohol, etc.
Materials and Methods: A large cross-sectional study was conducted among 627 Lebanese women, aged 45-67 yr using a well-developed and comprehensive questionnaire, in order to better assess the prevalence of hot flashes, focusing on their characteristics, association with various factors, severity, and effect on the women’s quality of life.
Results: 62.5% of participants experienced hot flashes. A statistically significant difference was noted between women who experience hot flashes and their counterparts with respect to smoking, body mass index, spicy food consumption, education level, age, menstrual status, and parity. An association was not found with physical activity or other dietary factors.
Conclusion: As an alternative for hormone therapy, clinicians should consider lifestyle changes to help manage hot flashes, which impose a tremendous physical and social toll on the women experiencing them.
Objective: To shed light on this matter by assessing the prevalence of hot flashes, their effect on quality of life, and their association with certain factors such as physical exercise, caffeine, spicy food consumption, dietary intake, smoking, alcohol, etc.
Materials and Methods: A large cross-sectional study was conducted among 627 Lebanese women, aged 45-67 yr using a well-developed and comprehensive questionnaire, in order to better assess the prevalence of hot flashes, focusing on their characteristics, association with various factors, severity, and effect on the women’s quality of life.
Results: 62.5% of participants experienced hot flashes. A statistically significant difference was noted between women who experience hot flashes and their counterparts with respect to smoking, body mass index, spicy food consumption, education level, age, menstrual status, and parity. An association was not found with physical activity or other dietary factors.
Conclusion: As an alternative for hormone therapy, clinicians should consider lifestyle changes to help manage hot flashes, which impose a tremendous physical and social toll on the women experiencing them.
Type of Study: Original Article |
Subject:
Reproductive Epidemiology
References
1. Pachman DR, Jones JM, Loprinzi CL. Management of menopause-associated vasomotor symptoms: Current treatment options, challenges and future directions. Int J Women's Health 2010; 2: 123-135. [DOI:10.2147/IJWH.S7721] [PMID] [PMCID]
2. Freeman EW, Sherif K. Prevalence of hot flushes and night sweats around the world: A systematic review. Climacteric 2007; 10: 197-214. [DOI:10.1080/13697130601181486] [PMID]
3. Obermeyer CM, Ghorayeb F, Reynolds R. Symptom reporting around the menopause in Beirut, Lebanon. Maturitas 1999; 33: 249-258. [DOI:10.1016/S0378-5122(99)00049-3]
4. Freedman R. Pathophysiology and treatment of menopausal hot flashes. Semin Reprod Med 2005; 23: 117-125. [DOI:10.1055/s-2005-869479] [PMID]
5. Avis NE, Crawford SL, Greendale G, Bromberger JT, Everson-Rose SA, Gold EB, et al. Duration of menopausal vasomotor symptoms over the menopause transition. JAMA Intern Med 2015; 175: 531-539. [DOI:10.1001/jamainternmed.2014.8063] [PMID] [PMCID]
6. Mishra G, Kuh D. Perceived change in quality of life during the menopause. Soc Sci Med 2006; 62: 93-102. [DOI:10.1016/j.socscimed.2005.05.015] [PMID]
7. Randolph JF, Sowers MF, Bondarenko IV, Harlow SD, Luborsky JL, Little RJ. Change in estradiol and follicle-stimulating hormone across the early menopausal transition: Effects of ethnicity and age. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2004; 89: 1555-1561. [DOI:10.1210/jc.2003-031183] [PMID]
8. Staropoli CA, Flaws JA, Bush TL, Moulton AW. Predictors of menopausal hot flashes. J Womens Health 1998; 7: 1149-1155. [DOI:10.1089/jwh.1998.7.1149] [PMID]
9. Freeman EW, Sammel MD, Lin H, Liu Z, Gracia CR. Duration of menopausal hot flushes and associated risk factors. Obstet Gynecol 2011; 117: 1095-1104. [DOI:10.1097/AOG.0b013e318214f0de] [PMID] [PMCID]
10. Gallicchio L, Miller SR, Kiefer J, Greene T, Zacur HA, Flaws JA. Risk factors for hot flashes among women undergoing the menopausal transition: Baseline results from the Midlife Women's Health Study. Menopause 2015; 22: 1098-1107. [DOI:10.1097/GME.0000000000000434] [PMID] [PMCID]
11. Hunter MS, Gentry-Maharaj A, Ryan A, Burnell M, Lanceley A, Fraser L, et al. Prevalence, frequency and problem rating of hot flushes persist in older postmenopausal women: Impact of age, body mass index, hysterectomy, hormone therapy use, lifestyle and mood in a cross-sectional cohort study of 10 418 British women aged 54-65. BJOG 2012; 119: 40-50. [DOI:10.1111/j.1471-0528.2011.03166.x] [PMID]
12. Hardy C. The hot flash related daily interference scale: Cutoffs, minimally important differences, and a revised short version. Menopause 2017; 24: 869-870. [DOI:10.1097/GME.0000000000000933] [PMID]
13. Kuh DL, Wadsworth M, Hardy R. Women's health in midlife: The influence of the menopause, social factors and health in earlier life. Br J Obstet Gynecol 1997; 104: 923-933.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1471-0528.1997.tb11016.x [DOI:10.1111/j.1471-0528.1997.tb14352.x] [PMID]
14. Schwingl PJ, Hulka BS, Harlow SD. Risk factors for menopausal hot flashes. Obstet Gynecol 1994; 84: 29-34.
15. Huang AJ, Grady D, Jacoby VL, Blackwell TL, Bauer DC, Sawaya GF. Persistent hot flushes in older postmenopausal women. Arch Intern Med 2008; 168: 840-846. [DOI:10.1001/archinte.168.8.840] [PMID]
16. Whiteman MK, Staropoli CA, Langenberg PW, McCarter RJ, Kjerulff KH, Flaws JA. Smoking, body mass, and hot flashed in midlife women. Obstet Gynecol 2003; 101: 264-272.
https://doi.org/10.1016/S0029-7844(02)02593-0 [DOI:10.1097/00006250-200302000-00012]
17. den Tonkelaar I, Seidell JC, van Noord PAH. Obesity and fat distribution in relation to hot flashes in Dutch women from the DOM-project. Maturitas 1996; 23: 301-305. [DOI:10.1016/0378-5122(95)00990-6]
18. Amabebe E, Osayande SI, Ozoene JO, Ugwu AC. Relationship between menopausal sweating and body mass index. Open Journal of Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases 2014; 4: 137-146.
https://doi.org/10.4236/ojemd.2014.43008 [DOI:10.4236/ojemd.2014.46014]
19. Tan MN, Kartal M, Guldal D. The effect of physical activity and body mass index on menopausal symptoms in Turkish women: A cross-sectional study in primary care. BMC Women's Health 2014; 14: 38-46. [DOI:10.1186/1472-6874-14-38] [PMID] [PMCID]
20. Campagnoli C, Morra G, Belforte P, Belforte L, Prelato Tousijn L. Climacteric symptoms according to body weight in women of different socio-economic groups. Maturitas 1981; 3: 279-287. [DOI:10.1016/0378-5122(81)90035-9]
21. Freedman RR, Krell W. Reduced thermoregulatory null zone in postmenopausal women with hot flashes. Am J Obstet Gynecol 1999; 181: 66-70. [DOI:10.1016/S0002-9378(99)70437-0]
22. Smith RL, Gallicchio L, Miller SR, Zacur HA, Flaws JA. Risk factors for extended duration and timing of peak severity of hot flashes. PLoS One 2016; 11: e0155079. [DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0155079] [PMID] [PMCID]
23. Thurston RC, Joffe H. Vasomotor symptoms and menopause: Findings from the study of women's health across the nation. Obstet Gynecol Clin North Am 2011; 38: 489-501. [DOI:10.1016/j.ogc.2011.05.006] [PMID] [PMCID]
24. Avis NE, Crawford SL, Greendale G, Bromberger JT, Everson-Rose SA, Gold EB, et al. Duration of menopausal vasomotor symptoms over the menopause transition. JAMA Intern Med 2015; 175: 531-539. [DOI:10.1001/jamainternmed.2014.8063] [PMID] [PMCID]
25. Faubion SS, Sood R, Thielen JM, Shuster LT. Caffeine and menopausal symptoms: What is the association? Menopause 2015; 22: 155-158. [DOI:10.1097/GME.0000000000000301] [PMID]
26. Cochran ChJ, Gallicchio L, Miller SR, Zacur H, Flaws JA. Cigarette smoking, androgen levels, and hot flushes in midlife women. Obstet Gynecol 2008; 112: 1037-1044. [DOI:10.1097/AOG.0b013e318189a8e2] [PMID] [PMCID]
27. Herber-Gast GCM, Mishra GD. Fruit, mediterranean-style, and high-fat and -sugar diets are associated with the risk of night sweats and hot flushes in midlife: Results from a prospective cohort study. Am J Clin Nutr 2013; 97: 1092-1099. [DOI:10.3945/ajcn.112.049965] [PMID]
28. Dormire Sh, Howharn Ch. The effect of dietary intake on hot flashes in menopausal women. J Obstet Gynecol Neonatal Nurs 2007; 36: 255-262. [DOI:10.1111/j.1552-6909.2007.00142.x] [PMID] [PMCID]
29. Tham DM, Gardner ChD, Haskell WL. Potential health benefits of dietary phytoestrogens: A review of the clinical, epidemiological, and mechanistic evidence. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1998; 83: 2223-2235.
https://doi.org/10.1210/jc.83.7.2223 [DOI:10.1210/jcem.83.7.4752] [PMID]
30. Col NF, Guthrie JR, Politi M, Dennerstein L. Duration of vasomotor symptoms in middle-aged women: a longitudinal study. Menopause 2009; 16: 453-457. [DOI:10.1097/gme.0b013e31818d414e] [PMID]
31. Politi MC, Schleinitz MD, Col NF. Revisiting the duration of vasomotor symptoms of menopause: A meta-analysis. J Gen Intern Med 2008; 23: 1507-1513. [DOI:10.1007/s11606-008-0655-4] [PMID] [PMCID]
Send email to the article author
| Rights and permissions | |
 |
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. |
