An International Menopause Society study of Climate, Altitude, Temperature (IMS-CAT) and vasomotor symptoms in urban Indian regions

Abstract

Objective To examine the relationships between climate (season, temperature, humidity), lifestyle, health, mood and beliefs and experience of hot flushes and night sweats amongst mid-aged women living in eight urban Indian centers.

Methods A total of 717 peri- and postmenopausal women, aged 45–55 years, from urban centers in different regions of India were included. Data were collected during both summer and winter months. Participants completed questionnaires eliciting information about sociodemographics, hot flushes (prevalence, frequency and problem-rating), health and lifestyle (body mass index, diet, exercise, alcohol use), mood (Women's Health Questionnaire) and attributions and beliefs (Menopause Representations Questionnaire).

Results The prevalence of vasomotor symptoms was low, with 34% of the sample reporting hot flushes and/or night sweats. Seasonal variation in temperature was not associated with hot flush prevalence, frequency or problem rating. Hot flush prevalence was mainly associated with higher anxiety and intake of spicy foods, frequency with (older) age and (more) frequent exercise, while hot flushes were more problematic for women who reported poorer general health and more negative beliefs about menopause.

Conclusions In this study of Indian women, seasonal temperature variation did not appear to influence hot flush reporting. Health, mood, beliefs and lifestyle factors appear to explain some, but not all, of the variance in experience of menopausal symptoms.

Key words::

• MENOPAUSE
• HOT FLUSHES
• VASOMOTOR SYMPTOMS
• SEASON
• CLIMATE
• CULTURE

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We would like to thank each member society of CAMS 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

Hunter MS, King’s College London; Evgenia Stefanopoulou, King’s College London; Pratima Gupta, Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, UK; David Sturdee, Solihull Hospital, Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, UK; Dr Duru Shah, Director, Gynecworld Center for Women’s Health and Fertility, Mumbai, India; Dr Rashmi Shah, National Institute For Research In Reproductive Health, Mumbai, India. Other members of Indian Menopause Society: Dr Jyothi Unni, Pune; Dr Neelam Aggarwal, Chandigarh; Dr Ambuja Choranur, Hyderabad; Dr Sulabha Joshi, Nagpur; Dr Kaushal Chundawat, Udaipur; Dr Neerja Pauranik, Indore; Dr Seema Sharma, Jaipur; Dr Rooplekha Chauhan, Jabalpur.

Conflicts of interest The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of this paper.

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