TY - JOUR
T1 - Beyond frequency
T2 - Who is most bothered by vasomotor symptoms?
AU - Thurston, Rebecca C.
AU - Bromberger, Joyce T.
AU - Joffe, Hadine
AU - Avis, Nancy E.
AU - Hess, Rachel
AU - Crandall, Carolyn J.
AU - Chang, Yuefang
AU - Green, Robin
AU - Matthews, Karen A.
PY - 2008/9
Y1 - 2008/9
N2 - OBJECTIVE: Most menopausal women report vasomotor symptoms (hot flashes, night sweats). However, not all women with vasomotor symptoms, including frequent symptoms, are bothered by them. The primary aim was to identify correlates of vasomotor symptom bother beyond symptom frequency. DESIGN: The Study of Women's Health Across the Nation participants reporting vasomotor symptoms at annual visit 7 comprised the sample (N = 1,042). Assessments included hot flash and night sweats frequency (number per week) and bother (1, not at all- 4, very much). Negative affect (index of depressive symptoms, anxiety, perceived stress, negative mood), symptom sensitivity, sleep problems, and vasomotor symptom duration (number of years) were examined cross-sectionally in relation to bother in ordinal logistic regression models with symptom frequency and covariates. Hot flashes and night sweats were considered separately. RESULTS: In multivariable models controlling for hot flash frequency, negative affect (odds ratio [OR] = 1.27, 95% CI: 1.08-1.51), symptom sensitivity (OR = 1.18, 95% CI: 1.03-1.37), sleep problems (OR = 1.38, 95% CI: 1.04-1.85), poorer health (OR = 1.24, 95% CI: 1.03-1.48), duration of hot flashes (OR = 1.14, 95% CI: 1.06-1.23), younger age (OR = 0.94, 95% CI: 0.89-0.99), and African American race (vs white, OR = 1.59, 95% CI: 1.12-2.26) were associated with hot flash bother. After controlling for night sweats frequency and covariates, sleep problems (OR = 1.84, 95% CI:1.33-2.55) and night sweats duration (OR = 1.10, 95% CI: 1.02-1.20) were associated with night sweats bother. CONCLUSIONS: Beyond frequency, factors associated with bothersome hot flashes include mood, symptom sensitivity, symptom duration, sleep problems, age, and race. Correlates of bothersome night sweats include sleep problems and symptom duration. In addition to reducing frequency, interventions for vasomotor symptoms might consider addressing modifiable factors related to symptom bother.
AB - OBJECTIVE: Most menopausal women report vasomotor symptoms (hot flashes, night sweats). However, not all women with vasomotor symptoms, including frequent symptoms, are bothered by them. The primary aim was to identify correlates of vasomotor symptom bother beyond symptom frequency. DESIGN: The Study of Women's Health Across the Nation participants reporting vasomotor symptoms at annual visit 7 comprised the sample (N = 1,042). Assessments included hot flash and night sweats frequency (number per week) and bother (1, not at all- 4, very much). Negative affect (index of depressive symptoms, anxiety, perceived stress, negative mood), symptom sensitivity, sleep problems, and vasomotor symptom duration (number of years) were examined cross-sectionally in relation to bother in ordinal logistic regression models with symptom frequency and covariates. Hot flashes and night sweats were considered separately. RESULTS: In multivariable models controlling for hot flash frequency, negative affect (odds ratio [OR] = 1.27, 95% CI: 1.08-1.51), symptom sensitivity (OR = 1.18, 95% CI: 1.03-1.37), sleep problems (OR = 1.38, 95% CI: 1.04-1.85), poorer health (OR = 1.24, 95% CI: 1.03-1.48), duration of hot flashes (OR = 1.14, 95% CI: 1.06-1.23), younger age (OR = 0.94, 95% CI: 0.89-0.99), and African American race (vs white, OR = 1.59, 95% CI: 1.12-2.26) were associated with hot flash bother. After controlling for night sweats frequency and covariates, sleep problems (OR = 1.84, 95% CI:1.33-2.55) and night sweats duration (OR = 1.10, 95% CI: 1.02-1.20) were associated with night sweats bother. CONCLUSIONS: Beyond frequency, factors associated with bothersome hot flashes include mood, symptom sensitivity, symptom duration, sleep problems, age, and race. Correlates of bothersome night sweats include sleep problems and symptom duration. In addition to reducing frequency, interventions for vasomotor symptoms might consider addressing modifiable factors related to symptom bother.
KW - Hot flashes
KW - Hot flushes
KW - Mood
KW - Night sweats
KW - Sleep
KW - Vasomotor symptoms
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U2 - 10.1097/gme.0b013e318168f09b
DO - 10.1097/gme.0b013e318168f09b
M3 - Article
C2 - 18521049
AN - SCOPUS:58249089219
SN - 1072-3714
VL - 15
SP - 841
EP - 847
JO - Menopause
JF - Menopause
IS - 5
ER -