Real-world evaluation of treatment utilization by women experiencing vasomotor symptoms associated with menopause in the United States and Europe: Findings from the REALISE study

Abstract

ObjectivesDespite the profound impact of menopausal symptoms on women, treatment utilization is low, and many seek alternative therapies. The REALISE study aimed to evaluate the treatment landscape – that is, pharmacological treatment, lifestyle changes (LC), and use of over-the-counter (OTC) products – for women from six high-income countries experiencing vasomotor symptoms (VMS) and receiving healthcare. Study designAnalysis of a secondary dataset, the Adelphi Real World Disease Specific Programme™, a large, cross-sectional, point-in-time survey conducted in the United States and five European countries (February–October 2020). Physicians provided demographic, clinical, and treatment data; women were stratified by VMS severity (mild; moderate-severe) and presence of concomitant sleep/mood symptoms. Women completed forms on VMS severity, concomitant symptoms, LC, and OTC product use. Two subgroups were identified: VMS-only and VMS + sleep/mood. Main outcome measuresPrescription treatment, LC, and OTC product utilization. ResultsPhysicians (n = 233) provided data on 1767 women; 825 (46.7 %) completed a self-completion form. Physicians rated 60 % of women with moderate-severe VMS, of whom 709 (66.8 %) were currently prescribed pharmacological treatment; 27.1 % had never been prescribed. Hormone therapy was most frequently prescribed in the moderate-severe group (overall, 49.8 %; VMS-only, 57.4 %; VMS + sleep/mood, 47.3 %), followed by serotonergic antidepressants (15.7 %; 9.7 %; 17.6 %, respectively). Most women (78.3 %) with moderate-severe VMS adopted LC, and 57.6 % used at least one OTC product for VMS relief. ConclusionsNearly a third of women with moderate-severe VMS had never received treatment despite access to healthcare. This, combined with the prevalent use of LC/OTC products, suggests an unmet need for new treatment options to manage VMS and concomitant sleep/mood symptoms.