IMS study of Climate, Altitude, Temperature and vasomotor symptoms in the United Arab Emirates

Abstract

Objective To examine the relationships between temperature, season (summer versus winter), lifestyle, health, mood, beliefs, and experience of hot flushes and night sweats (HFNS), amongst mid-aged women living in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Methods The UAE climate is hyper-arid, being a hot desert climate, with warm winters and hot summers. A total of 372 peri- and postmenopausal women, aged from 45 to 55 years, from urban UAE regions were included. Data were collected during both summer and winter months. Participants completed questionnaires eliciting information about sociodemographics, HFNS (prevalence, frequency and problem-rating), health and lifestyle (body mass index (BMI), diet, exercise), mood (Women's Health Questionnaire) and menopause attributions and beliefs (Menopause Representations Questionnaire).

Results HFNS were currently being experienced by 46.5% of women, with an average weekly frequency of five and problem-rating of 5.7/10. Seasonal variation in temperature was not associated with prevalence, frequency or problem-rating. Hot flush prevalence was associated with poor health, life satisfaction, mood, employment, lower BMI and diet. Higher frequency was associated with higher BMI and more years since the last period. HFNS were more problematic mainly for women who reported lower life satisfaction and held more negative beliefs about the menopause.

Conclusions In this UAE study, temperature and seasonal temperature variation did not appear to influence HFNS-reporting, but health, life satisfaction, BMI, beliefs and lifestyle factors partially explained women's experiences of menopausal symptoms. A qualitative study might provide further information about the meanings of HFNS and menopause amongst UAE women.

Key words::

• MENOPAUSE
• HOT FLUSHES
• VASOMOTOR SYMPTOMS
• UNITED ARABIC EMIRATES
• CLIMATE
• SEASON

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We would like to thank each member society of CAMS (Council of Affiliated Menopause Societies) that took part in this study, which was made possible by the excellent relationships between the CAMS and the IMS.

LIST OF INVESTIGATORS AND AFFILIATIONS/PARTICIPATING COUNTRIES

Myra S. Hunter, King’s College London, UK; Evgenia Stefanopoulou, King’s College London, UK; David W. Sturdee, Solihull Hospital, Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust, UK; Pratima Gupta, Solihull Hospital, Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, UK; Randa Mohamed Mostafa, College of Medicine, University of Sharjah, UAE; Nermin Nosair, College of Medicine, University of Sharjah, UAE; Zein Mirghani College of Medicine, University of Sharjah, UAE; Kareem Moustafa, College of Medicine, University of Sharjah, UAE; Gader Al Kusayer, College of Medicine, University of Sharjah, UAE.

Conflict of interest No conflicts of interest were reported.

Source of funding The study was supported by the Menopause Research Trust Fund at Solihull Hospital, UK.