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Vasomotor symptoms decreased quality of life in postmenopausal women
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In a recent study published in Menopause, researchers examined the health-related quality of life, work productivity and resource use among postmenopausal women based on the severity of their vasomotor symptoms. According to data, severe symptoms have a significant effect on these associations.
Researchers selected patients (mean age, 57.92 years) from the 2010 US National Health and Wellness Study. Women aged 40 to 75 years who did not report menstrual bleeding or spotting for 1 year (n=3,267) were categorized into four cohorts: no vasomotor symptoms (VMS; n=1,740); mild VMS (n=931); moderate VMS (n=462); and severe VMS (n=134).
According to data, women with severe or moderate VMS displayed significantly lower mean health status scores compared with women who had no symptoms (P<.0001). Similarly, the mean number of menopause symptom-related physician visits were significantly greater among women with severe, moderate or mild symptoms compared with women who had no symptoms (P<.0001).
The researchers wrote that employed women with severe and moderate VMS had adjusted presenteeism of 24.28% and 14.3%, respectively, vs. 4.33% in women with mild symptoms (P<.001), and activities of daily living impairment of 31.66% and 17.06%, respectively, vs. 6.16% in women with mild symptoms (P<.0001).
The costs related to the presenteeism (mild: $1,078.94; moderate: $3,594.70; severe: $6,584.34) and overall work productivity (mild: $1,156.39; moderate: $3,819.03; severe: $6,559.12) increased with severity of VMS. Costs based on menopause-related physician visits also increased with severity (mild: $573.89; moderate: $834.43; severe: $961.18) compared with the group without VMS ($257.02), the researchers wrote.
Based on the findings and cost-related associations, the researchers wrote that the economic burden of VMS has an effect on health status, work productivity and health care resource use.
Disclosure: Whiteley and two other researchers report employment and stock options with Pfizer at the time of this study.
Perspective
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Margery Gass, MD, NCMP
This research contributes to women's health by quantifying the negative impact of VMS. This is especially important for women who are experiencing VMS because it validates their experience.
It's important to have studies like this for clinicians who are unfamiliar with these symptoms, for example, those clinicians who don't routinely see women with VMS and don't appreciate the disruption they cause. It's also important for regulatory bodies to know that these are significant symptoms that are worthy of more than one treatment option.
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