Factors associated with the quality of life in women with perimenopausal and postmenopausal status: a cross-sectional questionnaire survey from China

Abstract

Background: Many factors may influence the quality of life (QOL) of women with perimenopausal and postmenopausal status; however, systematic research is lacking. The purpose of the current study was to determine factors associated with specific dimensions of the QOL for perimenopausal and postmenopausal Chinese women. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed and initially included 403 women aged 36-76 years who visited the menopause clinic at Peking University First Hospital between September 2012 and December 2013. Participants completed the modified Kupperman index (mKMI), overactive bladder symptom score (OABSS), and SF-36 (QOL) questionnaires. Single factor logistic regression and multiple binary logistic regression were performed to evaluate the risk factors for low QOL for perimenopausal and postmenopausal women. Results: A total of 320 women were included in the final study sample. The average age was 52.55±5.96 years, average height was 159.99±5.70 cm, the average weight was 61.37±8.47 kg, the average BMI was 23.91±3.14kg/m2, the average total score of QOL was 492.51±145.35, the average score of mKMI was 21.72±9.79, and the average score of OABSS was 2.13±2.313. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed current smoking [OR=10.132, 95%CI (1.142, 89.882), p = 0.038], mKMI [OR=9.151, 95%CI (1.996, 41.957), p = 0.004], passive attitude towards menopause [OR=3.465, 95%CI (1.878, 6.392), p = 0.000], and OABSS (OR=2.410, 95%CI (1.253, 4.636), p = 0.008] showed statistical significance towards total score of QOL. Multiple logistic regression analysis towards different dimension of QOL: factors associated with physical functioning (PF) are age, current smoking, mKMI, and OABSS. Factors associated with physical role (PR) are low frequency of sexual intercourse in the last six months, mKMI, passive attitude towards menopause, dancing, and OABSS. Factors associated with bodily pain (BP) are height, and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) relieving menopause symptoms. Factors associated with general health (GH) are height, TCM relieving, mKMI, and passive attitude towards menopause. Factors associated with vitality (VT) are living with husband, mKMI, and passive attitude towards menopause. Factors associated with social functioning (SF) are mKMI, passive attitude towards menopause, and OABSS. Factors associated with emotional (ER) are passive smoking, low frequency of sexual intercourse in the last six months, mKMI, passive attitude towards menopause, and OABSS, Factors associated with mental health (MH) are mKMI, passive attitude, and OABSS. Linear-regression showed the different combination of relieving methods of perimenopausal symptoms, complications, relatives, and various exercises have different effects on the each dimension of QOL. Conclusion: Current smoking, mKMI, passive attitude towards menopause, and OABSS are risk factors towards the total QOL score for perimenopausal and postmenopausal Chinese women. Age, low frequency of sexual intercourse in the last six months, using TCM to relieve menopause symptoms, and passive smoking are risk factors towards some dimensions of the QOL for women during this period of life. Dancing, height, and living with husband are protective factors towards some dimensions of the QOL. Fully exploring the factors affecting women during this special period can help make more precise and effective treatments that may improve the QOL.