Hot Flushes and Night Sweats in Midlife: Why do Some Women Have Them and Others do Not?

Abstract

This study investigated what predicts the occurrence of hot fl ushes (HF) and night sweats (NS). A community sample of 992 women (42-60 years) answered a questionnaire to collect socio-demographic, health and menopause-related, as well as lifestyle information. Depressive mood and stress, as well as HF and NS (in terms of presence, frequency and intensity), were also assessed. Structural equation modelling was used to build a structural model to predict the occurrence of both vasomotor symptoms. Results: Stress predicted NS (β =.154; p =.006), whereas depressive mood was linked to the occurrence of HF's (β =.149; p =.006). Being peri-menopausal and post-menopausal, among several other characteristics, were also signifi cant predictors of the occurrence of both HF and NS. This study supports a distinguished infl uence of stress and depressive mood in NS and HF respectively, probably due to the nature of psychological symptoms. Moreover, signifi cant associations between vasomotor symptoms and socio-demographic, health and menopause-related characteristics, and alcohol were confi rmed. Keywords: Hot fl ushes, night sweats, stress, depressive mood, structural equation modelling. ResumoEste estudo investigou os preditores da ocorrência de afrontamentos (Af) e de suores noturnos (SN). Foi utilizada uma amostra comunitária de 992 mulheres (42-60 anos), que respondeu a um questionário para a recolha de informação sociodemográfi ca, de estado de saúde e menopausa, e sobre o estilo de vida. Os níveis de humor deprimido e estresse, tal como a ocorrência, frequência e intensidade dos Af e SN, foram avaliados. Modelos de equações estruturais foram utilizados para construir o modelo estrutural para predizer a ocorrência de ambos os sintomas vasomotores. Os resultados indicaram que estresse predisse os SN (β =0,154; p =0,006), enquanto o humor deprimido associou-se à ocorrência de Af (β =0,149; p =0,006). Estar na peri-menopausa ou na pós-menopausa, entre outras características, associou-se igualmente à ocorrência de Af e SN. Este estudo suporta uma infl uência diferenciada do estresse e do humor deprimido na ocorrência de SN e Af, respetivamente, provavelmente devido à natureza dos sintomas psicológicos. Adicionalmente confi rmou-se uma associação signifi cativa entre os sintomas vasomotores e características sociodemográfi cas, de saúde, de menopausa e consumo de álcool. Palavras-chave: afrontamentos, suores noturnos, estresse, humor deprimido, modelos de equações estruturais.

Factors related to the experience of menopausal symptoms in women prescribed tamoxifen

“…Factors associated with HFNS in the general population include lower levels of education [ 21 , 22 ], African American race [ 23 , 24 ], younger age [ 25 ] and being without a partner [ 26 , 27 ]. The cognitive model of HFNS explains how the perception, attribution and appraisal of menopausal symptoms are influenced by cognitive factors, beliefs and mood [ 28 ].…”

Stress and Coping among Perimenopausal Women

“…9; Issue: 11; November 2022 findings are consistent with the findings of the study done in Portugal among 992 women aged 42-60 years which revealed that women with experience of hot flushes had significantly higher levels of stress. [18] Similarly, Study findings of Pakistan among 150 women aged 40-60 years showed that fatigue was significantly positively associated with stress among perimenopausal women. [4] Likewise, study findings of India among 75 (postmenopausal and perimenopausal women with symptoms and without symptoms-25 in each group) women showed that there was a significant difference in stress level among three groups with anxiety, vasomotor symptoms, memory disturbances, and sleep disturbances with p-value < 0.001 for all symptoms.…”