PERIMENOPAUSAL FEATURES AND QUALITY OF LIFE IN SLOVENIAN WOMEN

IN THE YEARS 1990, 2000 AND 2010- A PROSPECTIVE STUDY

Helena Meden-Vrtovec, Renata Košir Pogačnik, Nina Slabe,

Ivan Verdenik

VIII hrvatski kongres o ginekološkoj endokrinologiji, humanoj reprodukciji i menopauzi

8. – 11. 9. 2011Brijuni

The main question

Has the changing face of modern life that includes - new technologies

- global crisis - increasingly stressful life - changes in ethical and moral values

any impact on QoL in perimenopausal women over the last 2 decades?

Study design

Prospective, cross-sectional, observationalHealth related quality of life (HRQoL) questionsEQ-SD questionnaire (modified)

Survey in 1990, 2000 and 2010

Participants

Perimenopausal women aged 45-54 years1990 – 585 women2000 – 655 women2010 – 334 women

Less than 2 million inhabitants in Slovenia

Content of questionnaires

personalsocial historyreproductivelife habitsvasomotorneurovegetative symptomspsychicsexual

General characteristics of women

Mean, SD or percent Characteristic 1990 2000 2010

(n=585) (n=655) (n=334)

Age (yrs) 49.9 ± 3.0 49.6 ± 2.8 50.3 ± 2.7Age at menarche (yrs) 14.2 ± 1.0 13.4 ± 1.6 13.4 ± 1.7Deliveries (number) 1.9 ± 1.0 1.83 ± 0.8 1.7 ± 0.7

Sexual activity (percentages)

1990 2000 2010 (n=585) (n=655) (n=334)

no sexual intercourse 17.3 8.2 8.7 < once a month (%) 12.8 15.9 15.9 ≥ once a month (%) 67.0 70.6 69.1 no answer (%) 2.9 5.4 6.3

Eating habits

Percent (no. of women)Consumption 1990 2000 2010of dairy products (n=585) (n=655) (n=334)

Milk 80.9 (473) 95.2 (540) 93.7 (310)Yoghurt 63.6 (372) 95.8 (549) 97.0 (319)Curd 55.7 (326) 93.8 (527) 93.3 (307)Cheese 66.2 (387) 97.4 (557) 99.1 (329)

Cigarette smoking

Non smoking (%) Up to 15 More than 15 per day (%) per day (%)

1990 85.0 9.4 5.62000 79.2 12.3 8.72010 75.7 16.9 7.4

Physical activity

On daily basis (%) Occasionally (%) Never (%)

1990 7.2 10.9 81.9 2000 46.6 22.9 30.6 2010 53.1 21.6 18.5

Urinary incontinence, joint & muscle diseases, gynecologic diseases

Without UI (%) Joint&muscle (%) Gynec. disease (%)

1990 69.4 25.8 20.9 2000 65.2 30.4 21.9 2010 73.9 18.4 25.5

Low incidence of the following diseases among Slovene perimenopausal women

DiabetesKidneyHeartVessels

Perimenopausal vasomotor symptoms

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

1990

Chest pain 2000

2010

1990

Palpitation 2000

2010

1990

Sw eating 2000

2010

1990

Hot f lushes 2000

2010

None Mild Moderate Intense

Perimenopausal neurovegetative symptoms

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

1990

Psilosis 2000

2010

1990

Skin changes 2000

2010

1990

Stomach pressure 2000

2010

1990

Concern 2000

2010

1990

Depressivness 2000

2010

1990

Nervousness 2000

2010

1990

Headache 2000

2010

1990

Insomnia 2000

2010

None Mild Moderate Intense

Perimenopausal sexual symptoms

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

1990

Bladder pains 2000

2010

1990

Genital itches 2000

2010

1990

Dispareunia 2000

2010

1990

Decresed sexual desire 2000

2010

None Mild Moderate Intense

Conclusions – general changes observed from 1990 to 2010

Age at the menopause increased from 47.7 in 1990 to 51.0 years in 2010

Mean values of systolic and diastolic pressures decreased

Daily physical activity undertaken by more women: 7% in 1990 vs. 56% in 2010

Consumption of healthy food increased

Smoking (especially moderate) increased

Sexual desire decreased in about 50% of women

Conclusions – climacteric symptoms

Most frequent – nervousnessMost intensive and bothersome – sweatingChest pain – significantly decreased

Conclusion

The QoL in Slovenian perimenopausal women has improved over the last two decades, presumably due to healthier life style.