Access to the published version may require journal subscription.Published with permission from: Elsevier Methods: A total of 6917 women living in the Lund area of southern Sweden were participates of this study. They completed a generic questionnaire pertaining to sociodemographic characteristics, lifestyle factors and current health related problems.According to hormonal status, the participants were subdivided into three groups, i.e.premenopause, postmenopause and peri-or postmenopausal women with hormone replacement therapy (HRT).Results: By using multiple logistic regression models, a high risk for somatic symptoms was independently associated with unemployment, no exercise, un-married, high body weight, and diseases affecting the cardiovascular system as well as a history of cancer. .Psychological symptoms were independently associated with higher educational level, unemployment, no exercise, un-married, heavy smoking habits (>15 cig/day), weight gain, and a history of cancer. In addition, the background factors seemed to have less impact on symptoms among women who used HRT.
Conclusion:Socio-demographic characteristics, lifestyle factors and concurrent health problems appear to have influences on the frequency and the number of somatic and psychological symptoms in middle-age women. Hormone replacement therapy seems to be able to counteract negative impacts caused by un-healthy lifestyle and other health problems.3 3