The validity of the Menopause Specific Quality of Life Questionnaire in older women

Abstract

Objectives To examine the validity of the Menopause Specific Quality of Life Questionnaire (MENQOL) domains when used with elderly women. We also determined whether MENQOL domain scores were related to depression and cognitive complaints. Methods 148 post-menopausal women (60–88 years old), not on hormone replacement therapy, were screened for a randomized control trial examining the effectiveness of hormone replacement therapy in the delay of cognitive impairment. Validation of the psychosocial, physical and sexual domains of MENQOL involved linear regression analysis with the mental component and the physical component of the SF-36, and with marital status, respectively. We used logistic regression analysis to examine the relationship between the above MENQOL domain scores and depression, and linear regression analysis to examine the relationship between these MENQOL domain scores and cognitive complaints. All regression analyses were adjusted for age, education, and whether or not a woman had surgical menopause. Results We found 44% of the variation in the MENQOL's physical and psychosocial domain scores could be explained by their respective validation measures, and that 18% of the variation in the sexual domain scores could be explained by marital status. Poor quality of life (QoL) on the physical and psychosocial domains was significantly associated with depressed affect and more cognitive complaints. Conclusions The results support the validity of the MENQOL physical, psychosocial and sexual domains as QoL measures in elderly women. QoL impairment on the physical and psychosocial MENQOL domains are also related to depression and cognitive complaints.