The Change In Health Related Quality Of Life And Its Associated Factors In Middle Aged Chinese Women Across Menopausal Transition

Objective:The aim of this study was to compare health-related quality of life(HRQL)by menopausal stage and investigate its associated factors in middle-aged Chinese women.Method:This was a cross-sectional,community-based study involving 868 participants aged 40-60 years in Gongshu District,Hangzhou,Zhejiang,PR China.The Short-Form Health Survey(SF-3 6)was used to assess HRQL.Modified Kupperman Menopausal Index was used to evaluate the presence of menopausal symptoms.Sociodemographic characteristics including education,occupation,income,marriage,and place of residence were collected.Statistical analysis was conducted to compare the scores of HRQL across menopausal stages.Logistic regression model was performed to investigate the impact of menopause stage on HRQL and identify factors associated with HRQL.Covariates included menopausal symptoms,menopausal stage and sociodemographic factors.Results:Out of 868 participants,283 women(32.6%)were premenopausal,178(20.5%)were perimenopausal,and 407(46.9%)were postmenopausal.The mean(SD)age of all participants was 50.83(5.60)years.Significant differences were seen in domains of physical functioning,role-physical,bodily pain,general health and health transition by menopausal stage.The multivariate logistic regressions showed that there were significant associations between menopausal stage and HRQL after adjusting menopausal symptoms and sociodemographic characteristics.Compared to premenopausal women,perimenopausal women had increased risks of having impaired functions in role-physical and health transition(OR 1.69,95%Cl 1.06-2.70 and OR 1.79,95%CI 1.16-2.76,respectively),and postmenopausal women were more likely to have impaired functions in physical functioning and health transition(OR 1.89,95%CI 1.25-2.86 and OR 1.75,95%CI 1.20-2.54,respectively),(p<0.05 for all).Menopausal symptoms including hot flashes/sweating,mood swings,muscle/joint pain,fatigue and insomnia were negatively associated with HRQL,(p<0.05 for all).Being married or cohabiting was positively related to general health,(p<0.05).Being unemployed or retired was negatively associated with role-physical,(p<0.05).Conclusions:There was difference in HRQL by menopausal stage in middle-aged Chinese women.The menopause might exert a negative impact on HRQL,adjusting for menopausal symptoms and sociodemographic factors.