Impact on quality of life related to foot health in a sample of menopausal women: a case–control observational study

Abstract

Objective: To describe and compare the impact of foot health and health in general on quality of life in a sample of menopausal women and non-menopausal women with normalized reference values.

Methods: A total of 146 participants with a mean age of 50.51 ± 3.977 years came to a health center where self-reported data were registered. Participants were divided into menopausal and non-menopausal groups. Scores obtained were compared by the Foot Health Status Questionnaire (FHSQ), which assesses four foot health domains: pain, function, general health and footwear.

Results: The menopausal women showed a lower quality of life related to health in general and to foot health specifically. Differences between the two groups were evaluated by means of a t-test for independent samples, showing statistical significance in foot pain, general foot health and social capacity (p < 0.05).

Conclusions: Menopausal women had a lower quality of life related to foot health, which appears to be associated with menopause.

Keywords:

• Foot deformities
• foot diseases
• menopause
• quality of life
• women's health
• women's health services

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the staff and patients of the Research, Health and Podiatry Unit, Universidade da Coruña, Spain.

Conflict of interest

The authors did not receive any financial assistance from or have any personal relationships with other people or organizations that could inappropriately influence (bias) their work.

Source of funding

Nil.