Bazedoxifene/conjugated estrogens and quality of life in postmenopausal women

Abstract

Objective To assess the effects of bazedoxifene/conjugated estrogens (BZA/CE) on sleep parameters and health-related quality of life (HR-QOL). Methods This was a 12-week, multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 3 study. Postmenopausal women with an intact uterus and experiencing ≥7 moderate-to-severe hot flushes daily were randomized to BZA 20 mg/CE 0.45 mg, BZA 20 mg/CE 0.625 mg, or placebo. In these secondary efficacy analyses, the Medical Outcomes Study (MOS) sleep scale and Menopause-Specific Quality of Life (MENQOL) questionnaires and the Menopause Symptoms Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire (MS-TSQ) evaluated measures of sleep, menopausal symptoms, and satisfaction with treatment, respectively. Results A total of 318 subjects (mean age, 53.4 years) received ≥1 dose of study drug. At Week 12, BZA 20 mg/CE 0.45 and 0.625 mg showed significant improvements over placebo in the MOS sleep scale for time to fall asleep, sleep adequacy, sleep disturbance, and sleep problems indexes I and II ( P < 0.001). A reduction in hot flush frequency was significantly associated with improvement in sleep parameters ( P < 0.05) based on linear regression and responder analyses. Both BZA/CE doses showed significantly greater improvements over placebo in vasomotor function and total MENQOL score ( P < 0.001). Results of the MS-TSQ showed that subjects treated with BZA/CE versus placebo reported significantly greater overall satisfaction with treatment ( P < 0.05), as well as greater satisfaction with sleep quality, ability to control hot flushes during the day and night, effect on mood/emotions, and tolerability. Conclusion Symptomatic postmenopausal women treated with BZA/CE experienced significant improvements in sleep parameters and overall HR-QOL.