Investigation of the relationship between hot flashes, sweating and sleep quality in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women: the mediating effect of anxiety and depression

Qian Zhou,Baisong Wang,Jun Xie,Qin Jin,Jing Ma,Furui Jin,Qi Hua

doi:10.1186/s12905-021-01433-y

Qian Zhou, Baisong Wang + Show 5 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-021-01433-y

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Abstract

BackgroundTo investigate the relationship between sweating from hot flashes, anxiety, depression, and sleep quality in peri- and postmenopausal women. And also the role of anxiety and depression in mediating sweating from hot flashes and sleep quality.Methods467 women aged 40–60 years with menopausal problems were enrolled. The sleep quality; hot flashes; sweating; anxiety and depression symptoms were quantitatively evaluated by Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Scale (PSQI), Kupperman Menopause Index, Self-rating Anxiety Scale and Self-rating Depression Scale. Spearman correlation analysis and mediating effect model were used to analyze the relationship between the three.Results262 patients’ PSQI score were higher than 6 (58.2%). Total scores of sleep quality were positively correlated with hot flashes, sweating and anxiety and depression symptoms. Anxiety and depression played a mediating role between hot flashes, sweating and sleep quality where the mediating effect of anxiety symptoms accounted for 17.86% (P < 0.01) and depression symptoms accounted for 5.36% (P < 0.01).ConclusionsThe hot flashes, sweating, anxiety and depression of peri/postmenopausal women are risk factors affecting sleep quality. By alleviating these risk factors, the sleep quality of peri- and postmenopausal women could be improved, which prevents the physical and mental diseases due to long-term severe insomnia.

Highlights

To investigate the relationship between sweating from hot flashes, anxiety, depression, and sleep quality in peri- and postmenopausal women
Survey conduct and design This is a hospital-based cross-sectional survey study, using face-to-face questionnaire to survey peri-and postmenopausal women who come to the climacteric clinic for treatment and meet the including criteria.The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Scale (PSQI), Kupperman Menopausal Index (KMI), Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) SRS.14 and Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS) SRS.11 were used to quantify the sleep quality, hot flashes and sweating symptoms, depressive symptoms and anxiety symptoms of the subjects
Our results show that anxiety and depression scores are significantly positively correlated with sleep quality

Summary

Introduction

To investigate the relationship between sweating from hot flashes, anxiety, depression, and sleep quality in peri- and postmenopausal women. The role of anxiety and depression in mediating sweating from hot flashes and sleep quality. Peri- and postmenopausal women experience decrease in estrogen levels but not everyone suffers from these symptoms The pathogenesis of these symptoms is yet not clear, and the causal relationship between these symptoms and poor sleep quality is uncertain. These factors interact with each other to complicate the sleep problems during menopausal transition. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether anxiety and depression play a mediating role in hot flashes, sweating and sleep quality. This study provided a new perspective in exploring the relationship between three groups of symptoms, and scientific evidence in treating sleep disorders among peri- and postmenopausal women

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