Evaluation of the impact, treatment patterns, and patient and physician perceptions of vasomotor symptoms associated with menopause in Europe and the United States

Prevalence and impact of vasomotor symptoms due to menopause among women in Brazil, Canada, Mexico, and Nordic Europe: a cross-sectional survey

“…Consistent with other reports, our data demonstrate that VMS are commonly associated with impairments in work productivity and daily activities; however, VMS infrequently resulted in absenteeism 8 . Overall impairment in daily activities and work was greater in this survey than in the prior surveys by Nappi et al 2 (United States; France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and United Kingdom; and Japan) and Stute et al 8 (United States and Europe). Differences between these surveys should be interpreted with caution, however, as the study populations differed by more than just region.…”

“…Findings using validated, standardized instruments (MENQoL, WPAI, and PROMIS sleep measures) confirmed that moderate to severe VMS in women in perimenopause or postmenopause can negatively affect QoL, productivity at work and home, and sleep quality. The mean total MENQoL score was higher in the current survey (4.13) than in a report by Stute et al 8 of women aged 40 to 65 years from Europe or the United States (2.5 overall and 2.1, 2.7, and 3.1 in women with mild, moderate, and severe VMS, respectively). In our study, the most common menopausal symptoms reported on the MENQoL were hot flashes, followed by feeling tired or worn out and then sweating, whereas, in the study by Nappi et al, 2 women from the United States, Western Europe, and Japan reported feeling tired and worn out as the most common symptom in all regions, followed by muscle or joint aches and difficulty sleeping in Western European women, hot flashes and muscle or joint aches in US women, and decrease in physical strength in Japanese women.…”

“…Differences between these surveys should be interpreted with caution, however, as the study populations differed by more than just region. Notably, the population in the current analysis comprised women in perimenopause or postmenopause with moderate or severe VMS at least once daily in the month before the survey, whereas Nappi et al 2 included women aged 40 to 65 years in postmenopause with at least one moderate to severe VMS in the 12 months before the survey, and Stute et al 8 included women aged 40 to 65 years with any clinically confirmed VMS (mild, moderate, or severe) due to menopause.…”

“…Reported VMS prevalence rates vary between regions in Asia, North and South America, Africa, and Australia, with estimates of 37% to 58% in Asia (16% in Japan), 18% to 70% in South America, 39% to 77% in Africa, 41% to 77% in North America (34% in the United States), 33% to 83% in Australia, and 40% to 97% in Europe 1,2 . VMS often negatively affect quality of life (QoL) and interfere with daily activities and productivity at home and work 3-8 . They can also cause sleep disturbances (eg, nocturnal awakenings), which could further affect daily activities 6,7,9,10 …”

“…For example, paroxetine is approved for VMS in the United States, but it is not approved for VMS in Canada or Sweden, which are countries included in the current study. Modest efficacy of non-HT compared with HT, as well as concerns about safety and tolerability, may limit use of these agents 8,15,17,19 . Thus, many women seek nonprescription herbal treatments and dietary supplements, despite a lack of evidence of their efficacy and safety 12,15,18-20 .…”