Menopausal Symptoms in Hispanic Women and the Role of Socioeconomic Factors

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The objective of this study was to assess differences in menopausal symptoms between postmenopausal (PM) Hispanic (H) and PM Caucasian (C) women. This was a prospective survey. Data from a convenience sample of 404 PM women (50% H, 50% C) were evaluated. Comparing H with C women, statistically significant differences (P < 0.05) in symptoms were noted with mood changes (76% H, 54% C), a decrease in energy (56% H, 36% C), palpitations (54% H, 26% C), breast tenderness (39% H, 28% C), memory loss (34% H, 22% C), and vaginal dryness (34% H, 44% C). When controlling for education and income, there were differences in mood changes, a decrease in energy and palpitations between the groups. Consistent with previous data, hot flashes (80% H, 75% C) and night sweats (67% H, 64% C) were the most common symptoms in the PM C women, and there were no significant differences compared with PM H women. Symptoms reported by PM C women in this sample are consistent with rates in the literature, but PM H women reported several symptoms at a higher rate. These differences remain when socioeconomic factors are considered, suggesting ethnicity may be an independent variable in menopausal symptomatology.