Symptom clusters during the late menopausal transition stage

Cray, Lori; Woods, Nancy Fúgate; Mitchell, Ellen Sullivan

doi:10.1097/gme.0b013e3181dd1f95

Cited by 44 publications

(28 citation statements)

References 31 publications

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“…The identification of a large class that included low severity symptoms of each type is consistent with other studies of community-based populations 34 including our prior analysis of symptom clusters during the late menopausal transition stage 14 . Of interest is the symptom cluster (class 3) in which hot flashes constitute the symptom with the highest severity ratings.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 84%

“…As such, the data contribute to an understanding of symptom experiences beyond our early efforts to characterize the late menopausal transition stage 14 . In the study reported here we included data from 19 symptoms as rated in over 6500 observations for periods of time up to 20 years.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…Although investigators have not identified a true “menopausal syndrome” 11 , there is evidence that symptoms women experience during the menopausal transition tend to cluster together 12,13,14 . Symptom clusters are multiple symptoms that co-occur and may be related to one another through a common mechanism or etiology, a common shared variance, or the production of different outcomes than individual symptoms, e.g.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Our earlier investigation of symptom clusters during the late menopausal transition stage, a period of peak prevalence and symptom intensity for many women, revealed four clusters of symptom types and severity based on data from symptom diary ratings of the severity of hot flashes, problem concentrating, joint aches, mood changes, and night-time awakening 14 . The four clusters were: low symptom severity for all symptoms except moderate severity joint ache (65%), high severity for all symptoms except for moderate hot flashes (13%), high severity hot flashes, night-time awakening, and joint aches (12%), and high severity problem concentrating and joint ache (10%) 14 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The four clusters were: low symptom severity for all symptoms except moderate severity joint ache (65%), high severity for all symptoms except for moderate hot flashes (13%), high severity hot flashes, night-time awakening, and joint aches (12%), and high severity problem concentrating and joint ache (10%) 14 . In our efforts to extend our understanding of the types of and stability of latent classes of women beyond just the late MT stage, we undertook analysis of symptom clusters during the late reproductive stage of reproductive aging, the early and late stages of menopausal transition, and the early postmenopause to explore this phenomenon throughout the menopausal transition and postmenopause.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Symptom clusters during the late reproductive stage through the early postmenopause

et al. 2012

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Objective Identify symptom clusters that characterize women’s experiences through the late reproductive stage, the menopausal transition and early postmenopause; and explore the influence of the menopausal transition stages and early postmenopause, compared to the late reproductive stage, on the clusters of symptoms women experience. Methods Participants from the Seattle Midlife Women’s Health Study whose symptom calendars were staged for menopausal transition provided data for a total of 6857 occasions. Multilevel latent class analysis was used to identify classes using scores for hot flashes and symptom factors (sleep, cognitive, mood, pain, tension). Results Class 1 included observations of low severity levels for all symptoms, whereas class 2 included low severity hot flashes and moderate severity levels for all other symptom factors. Class 3 included high severity hot flashes with lower severity levels of all other symptom factors. During the early and late menopausal transitions stages and early postmenopause, the likelihood of being in class 3 was significantly greater than being in class 1 relative to the late reproductive stage. There were no significant effects of menopausal transition stages on the likelihood of being in class 2. Conclusions This effort is the first to examine latent classes or clusters of symptoms over the prolonged period from late reproductive stage through early postmenopause. As such, the data contribute to understanding of symptom experiences beyond our early efforts to characterize the late menopausal transition stage.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 84%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Symptom clusters during the late reproductive stage through the early postmenopause

et al. 2012

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Chronic stress, social support, and symptoms at midlife. Is there a buffering effect?

Rulu,

Bertone‐Johnson,

Kamilar

et al. 2024

American Journal of Biological Anthropology

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ObjectivesThis study was designed to examine associations among measures of stress, social support, and symptoms at midlife. Specifically, the study examined whether support buffered against the negative effects of stress on severity of symptoms grouped via factor analyses into emotional instability, vaso‐somatic symptoms, mood disturbances, and aches and pains.MethodsWe used cross‐sectional data from n = 119 women aged 40–55 in Nagaland, India. Midlife symptoms were measured with the help of questionnaires, and factor analysis was used to identify latent factors. Stress and social support were measured by Perceived Stress Scale and Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, respectively. Chronic stress was measured by fingernail cortisol.ResultsAfter adjusting for menopausal status, tobacco use, body mass index, and socioeconomic status, cortisol level was positively associated with emotional instability (p < 0.01), vaso‐somatic symptom score (p < 0.05), and total symptoms at midlife (p < 0.05). Familial support was negatively associated with emotional instability (p < 0.05) and total symptoms at midlife (p < 0.05). However, no significant associations were observed with spousal or friend support. Although no significant interactions between stress, social support, and symptoms at midlife were observed, spousal support when stratified as high and low support using the means, perceived stress and vaso‐somatic symptoms indicated an interaction.ConclusionCortisol level and support from family were independently associated with symptoms at midlife. The study highlights the importance of family ties and support for navigating the stressors of everyday life among women in Nagaland.

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