A comparison of three outcome measures of the impact of vasomotor symptoms on women’s lives

Abstract

Objective: Measures of the impact of vasomotor symptoms (VMS) have been used as outcomes in clinical trials but have not been compared. This study compares the Hot Flush Rating Scale (HFRS), the Hot Flash Related Daily Interference Scale (HFRDIS), and the shorter Hot Flash Interference (HFI) scale.

Methods: Baseline data were taken from two studies including healthy women (menopause transition or postmenopause) and breast cancer patients experiencing VMS. Participants completed questionnaires on sociodemographics, the HFRS, the HFRDIS, the HFI, the Work and Social Adjustment Scale (WSAS), on depression (Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7), on anxiety (Patient Health Questionnaire 9), and on use of medical services.

Results: A total of 169 women (129 with history of breast cancer and 40 without) aged 54.47 (standard deviation [SD] = 9.11) years took part. They had an average of 66 (SD = 40.94) VMS per week, with a mean HFRS problem-rating of 6.53 (SD = 1.99), HFRDIS score of 5.36 (SD = 2.22), and HFI score of 6.13 (SD = 2.30). The HFRS problem-rating, HFRDIS, and HFI were significantly associated (r = 0.61–0.85), had good internal reliability (α = 0.76–0.91), and had significant concurrent validity with mood, the WSAS, and use of medical services. VMS frequency was not associated with mood, the WSAS, or use of medical services.

Conclusion: The HFRS problem-rating scale and the HFI are two brief, three-item measures that measure a similar concept of VMS interference/impact, with evidence of reliability and validity.

摘要

目的：血管舒缩性症状（VMS）对女性产生影响的测量方法已用于临床试验, 但尚未进行比较。本研究比较了潮热评定量表（HFRS）、与潮热相关的日干预量表（HFRDIS）和短时潮热干预量表（HFI）。

方法：基线数据取自两项研究, 包括健康女性（绝经过渡期或绝经后）和伴有VMS的乳腺癌患者。参与者完成了关于社会人口学资料、HFRS、HFRDIS、HFI、工作和社会适应量表（WSAS）、抑郁量表（广泛性焦虑障碍7）、焦虑量表（患者健康问卷9）和医疗服务使用的问卷调查。

结果：共有169名女性（129例有乳腺癌病史, 40例无乳腺癌史）, 年龄54.47岁（标准差, SD = 9.11）参与调查。他们平均每周有66个VMS（SD = 40.94）, HFRS问题评分平均为6.53 （SD = 1.99）, HFRDIS评分为5.36（SD = 2.22）, HFI评分为6.13（SD = 2.30）。HFRS问题评分、HFRDIS和HFI显著相关（r = 0.6-0.85）, 具有良好的内部可信度（α = 0.76-0.91）, 与情绪、WSAS和医疗服务使用具有显著的同时效度。VMS频率与情绪、WSAS或医疗服务使用无关。

结论：HFRS问题评分量（problem-rating scale）和HFI是包含三个内容的两个简要指标, 衡量的是VMS干预/影响的类似概念, 具有信度和效度的证据。

Keywords:

• Flushes
• hot flashes
• interference
• measures
• vasomotor symptoms

Potential conflict of interest

The authors have no financial or conflicts of interest to disclose.

Additional information

Funding

Menos4 study was supported by project grant from Breast Cancer Now [ref: 2015CR_004].