Menopausal symptoms among Chinese peri- and postmenopausal women: a large prospective single-center cohort study

Abstract

Background

The prevalence and intensity of menopausal symptoms differ depending on ethnicity, culture, and country. Epidemiological data from China are scarce.

Objective

To compare the prevalence and severity of menopausal symptoms in peri- and postmenopausal Chinese women.

Methods

This was a prospective two year cohort study that included all eligible women from 31 Chinese provinces attending our ‘Menopause Clinic’, the first official specialized center in China. Structured questionnaires containing seven domains with 41 items in total were used to assess the following menopausal symptoms using descriptive analysis: negative mood, cognitive symptoms, sleep disorder, vasomotor symptoms (VMS), urogenital symptoms, autonomic nervous disorder, and limb pain/paresthesia.

Results

A total of 4063 women with a mean age of 50.53 ± 6.57 (n = 2107 perimenopausal and 1956 postmenopausal) participated. All menopausal symptoms were more severe in postmenopausal women (p<.05). Independent of menopausal status, urogenital symptoms, often combined with sexual problems, were the most common complaints (in prevalence and severity), followed by sleep disorder, cognitive symptoms (especially hypomnesia), negative mood, autonomic nervous disorder, limb pain/paresthesia and, as the rarest complaint, VMS.

Conclusions

Urogenital symptoms among midlife Chinese women are common, frequently also in combination with sexual dysfunction, although many do not often complain about these in the first place. Postmenopausal women presented more prevalent and severe menopausal symptoms. In contrast to Western countries, VMS are rare among our population. A multidisciplinary approach and use of hormonal and non-hormonal therapies should be considered for these women.

摘要

背景：绝经期症状的发生率和强度因民族、文化和国家而异, 中国的流行病学数据很少。

目标：比较中国绝经前后妇女绝经期症状的发生率和严重程度。

方法：这是一项为期两年的前瞻性研究, 研究对象包括在我们的“绝经期门诊”就诊的所有符合条件的女性, 她们来自中国31个省份。 本研究采用结构式问卷, 包含七个领域, 共41项内容, 以描述性分析方法评估绝经期症状：负面情绪, 认知症状, 睡眠障碍, 血管舒缩症状（vasomotor symptoms, VMS）, 泌尿生殖器症状, 自主神经紊乱和肢体疼痛/感觉异常。

结果：参加研究的4063名女性平均年龄为50.53±6.57（围绝经期2107人, 绝经后1956人）。绝经后妇女的所有绝经期症状均较严重（p<0.05）。独立于绝经状态, 泌尿生殖器症状, 经常伴有性问题, 是最常见的主诉（患病率和严重程度）, 其次是睡眠障碍、认知症状（尤其是记忆力减退）, 负面情绪, 自主神经紊乱, 肢体疼痛/感觉异常, 最罕见的是VMS。

结论：中国中年妇女的泌尿生殖道症状很常见, 通常也与性功能障碍有关, 尽管许多人一开始并不主诉这些。 绝经后妇女出现更普遍和更严重的绝经症状。 与西方国家相比, VMS在我们的人口中很少见。对于这些妇女, 应考虑采用非激素和激素治疗的多学科方法。

Keywords:

• Perimenopause
• postmenopause
• menopausal symptoms
• China

Acknowledgements

This study received statistical support from Xingming Li, a statistical expert of the Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.

Disclosure statement

The authors report having no conflicts of interest.

Data availability statement

Because this cohort study is ongoing, the data is not available for readers.

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported by the Beijing Municipal Health Commission under Grant [No. (2017)35]; Beijing Municipal Administration of Hospitals’ Ascent Plan under Grant [No. DFL20181401]; Beijing Municipality Health Technology High-level Talent under Grant [No. 2014-2-016].