The relationship between physical activity and the severity of menopausal symptoms: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Objective To investigate the relationship between physical activity and the severity of menopausal symptoms in middle-aged women in northwest China. Methods This was a cross-sectional online survey study. Using a snowball sampling method, 468 women aged 45 to 60 were recruited from northwest China and their demographic information was collected. The modified Kupperman Menopausal Index scale and International Physical Activity Questionnaire short form were used in this study. Random forest was used to rank the importance of variables and select the optimal combination. The direction and relative risk (odds ratio value) of selected variables were further explained with an ordinal logistic regression model. Results The prevalence of menopausal syndromes was 74.8% and more than one-half of the participants had moderate or severe symptoms (54.3%). The Mantel-Haenszel linear-by-linear chi-square test showed a strong and negative correlation between physical activity level and the severity of menopausal symptoms (P < 0.001). Random forest demonstrated that the physical activity level was the most significant variable associated with the severity of menopausal symptoms. Multiple random forest regressions showed that the out-of-bag error rate reaches the minimum when the top 4 variables (physical activity level, menopausal status, perceived health status, and parity) in the importance ranking form an optimal variable combination. Ordinal logistic regression analysis showed that a higher physical activity level and a satisfactory perceived health status might be protective factors for menopausal symptoms (odds ratio (OR) < 1, P < 0.001); whereas perimenopausal or postmenopausal status and 2 parities might be risk factors for menopausal symptoms (OR > 1, P < 0.001). Conclusions There is a strong negative correlation between physical activity and the severity of menopausal symptoms. The results have a clinical implication that the menopausal symptoms may be improved by the moderate-to-high level physical activity in the lives of middle-aged women.

The Impact of Physical Activity and Inactivity on Cardiovascular Risk across Women’s Lifespan: An Updated Review

“…Moreover, a moderate-to-intense PA is crucial to protect or ameliorate cognitive health through body movement [121]. Finally, a recent study by Wu et al suggests a strong negative correlation between PA and the severity of menopausal symptoms, with higher PA levels correlated with a better perceived health status [122].…”

Edukasi dan Senam Menjaga Kebugaran dan Mengurangi Gangguan Premenopause Pada Lansia Perempuan

“…(Duralde et al, 2023). Penelitian Wu et al, (2023) menunjukan tingkat keparahan gangguan premenopause meningkat pada kelompok yang melakukan aktivitas fisik berat. Gejala premenopause berpengaruh pada semua tahap menopause baik itu perimenopause, premenopause maupun postmenopause.…”

“…Intervensi yang disarankan salah satunya adalah dengan melakukan aktivitas fisik pada level yang dapat disesuaikan dengan kemampuan. Penelitian yang dilakukan oleh Wu et al,( 2023) menunjukan bahwa keluhan yang banyak terjadi pada perempuan premenopause adalah kelelahan, gangguan tidur, keringat berlebih, cemas, dan gangguan otot. Penelitian menunjukan gangguan tidur terjadi pada perempuan dengan aktivitas rendah, gejala kelelahan banyak terjadi pada perempuan yang melakukan aktivitas sedang, sedangkan berkeringat ditemukan pada perempuan yang beraktivitas berat.…”

The influence of habitual physical activity and sedentary behavior on objective and subjective hot flashes at midlife

“…Acute exercise has been shown to trigger hot flashes 18 . However, although habitual physical activity may reduce the severity of hot flashes, 19-21 the available data are equivocal with studies reporting some 22-25 and no 26-28 association with the number of hot flashes. Data from randomized controlled trials of exercise training interventions are also mixed 14,16,29-35 .…”