PERIMENOPAUSAL FEATURES AND QUALITY OF LIFE IN SLOVENIAN WOMEN
IN THE YEARS 1990, 2000 AND 2010- A PROSPECTIVE STUDY
Helena Meden-Vrtovec, Renata Košir Pogačnik, Nina Slabe,
Ivan Verdenik
VIII hrvatski kongres o ginekološkoj endokrinologiji, humanoj reprodukciji i menopauzi
8. – 11. 9. 2011Brijuni
The main question
Has the changing face of modern life that includes - new technologies
- global crisis - increasingly stressful life - changes in ethical and moral values
any impact on QoL in perimenopausal women over the last 2 decades?
Study design
Prospective, cross-sectional, observationalHealth related quality of life (HRQoL) questionsEQ-SD questionnaire (modified)
Survey in 1990, 2000 and 2010
Participants
Perimenopausal women aged 45-54 years1990 – 585 women2000 – 655 women2010 – 334 women
Less than 2 million inhabitants in Slovenia
Content of questionnaires
personalsocial historyreproductivelife habitsvasomotorneurovegetative symptomspsychicsexual
General characteristics of women
Mean, SD or percent Characteristic 1990 2000 2010
(n=585) (n=655) (n=334)
Age (yrs) 49.9 ± 3.0 49.6 ± 2.8 50.3 ± 2.7Age at menarche (yrs) 14.2 ± 1.0 13.4 ± 1.6 13.4 ± 1.7Deliveries (number) 1.9 ± 1.0 1.83 ± 0.8 1.7 ± 0.7
Sexual activity (percentages)
1990 2000 2010 (n=585) (n=655) (n=334)
no sexual intercourse 17.3 8.2 8.7 < once a month (%) 12.8 15.9 15.9 ≥ once a month (%) 67.0 70.6 69.1 no answer (%) 2.9 5.4 6.3
Eating habits
Percent (no. of women)Consumption 1990 2000 2010of dairy products (n=585) (n=655) (n=334)
Milk 80.9 (473) 95.2 (540) 93.7 (310)Yoghurt 63.6 (372) 95.8 (549) 97.0 (319)Curd 55.7 (326) 93.8 (527) 93.3 (307)Cheese 66.2 (387) 97.4 (557) 99.1 (329)
Cigarette smoking
Non smoking (%) Up to 15 More than 15 per day (%) per day (%)
1990 85.0 9.4 5.62000 79.2 12.3 8.72010 75.7 16.9 7.4
Physical activity
On daily basis (%) Occasionally (%) Never (%)
1990 7.2 10.9 81.9 2000 46.6 22.9 30.6 2010 53.1 21.6 18.5
Urinary incontinence, joint & muscle diseases, gynecologic diseases
Without UI (%) Joint&muscle (%) Gynec. disease (%)
1990 69.4 25.8 20.9 2000 65.2 30.4 21.9 2010 73.9 18.4 25.5
Low incidence of the following diseases among Slovene perimenopausal women
DiabetesKidneyHeartVessels
Perimenopausal vasomotor symptoms
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
1990
Chest pain 2000
2010
1990
Palpitation 2000
2010
1990
Sw eating 2000
2010
1990
Hot f lushes 2000
2010
None Mild Moderate Intense
Perimenopausal neurovegetative symptoms
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
1990
Psilosis 2000
2010
1990
Skin changes 2000
2010
1990
Stomach pressure 2000
2010
1990
Concern 2000
2010
1990
Depressivness 2000
2010
1990
Nervousness 2000
2010
1990
Headache 2000
2010
1990
Insomnia 2000
2010
None Mild Moderate Intense
Perimenopausal sexual symptoms
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
1990
Bladder pains 2000
2010
1990
Genital itches 2000
2010
1990
Dispareunia 2000
2010
1990
Decresed sexual desire 2000
2010
None Mild Moderate Intense
Conclusions – general changes observed from 1990 to 2010
Age at the menopause increased from 47.7 in 1990 to 51.0 years in 2010
Mean values of systolic and diastolic pressures decreased
Daily physical activity undertaken by more women: 7% in 1990 vs. 56% in 2010
Consumption of healthy food increased
Smoking (especially moderate) increased
Sexual desire decreased in about 50% of women
Conclusions – climacteric symptoms
Most frequent – nervousnessMost intensive and bothersome – sweatingChest pain – significantly decreased
Conclusion
The QoL in Slovenian perimenopausal women has improved over the last two decades, presumably due to healthier life style.