Dizziness in peri- and postmenopausal women is associated with anxiety: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

BackgroundAlthough dizziness is one of the most common symptoms of menopause, the underlying mechanism is not precisely known. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the prevalence of, and the factors associated with, dizziness in peri- and postmenopausal women.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional study in which we analyzed the first-visit records of 471 Japanese women aged 40 to 65 years who enrolled in a health and nutrition education program at a menopause clinic. The prevalence of dizziness was estimated according to the participants’ responses to the Menopausal Health-Related Quality of Life Questionnaire. The background characteristics of age, menopause status, body composition, cardiovascular parameters, basal metabolism, and physical fitness; other menopausal symptoms, including vasomotor, insomnia, depression, and anxiety symptoms; and lifestyle characteristics were assessed for their associations with dizziness.ResultsThe percentage of women who suffered from dizziness once a week or more frequently was 35.7%. Compared to the women without dizziness, those with the symptom were younger; had a higher body weight, body mass index, body fat percentage, muscle mass, and waist-to-hip ratio; had higher systolic pressure; were slower in reaction time; had higher physical and psychological symptom scores of menopause; exercised less regularly; and consumed less alcohol. A multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that the anxiety symptom, which was evaluated by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, was the sole factor that was independently associated with dizziness (adjusted odds ratio 1.14; 95% confidence interval 1.08–1.20).ConclusionsDizziness is highly prevalent in Japanese peri- and postmenopausal women and it is associated with anxiety. The treatment of anxiety in this population might improve the symptom.

Hospital Admission Profile Related to Inner Ear Diseases in England and Wales

“…Our findings showed that all diseases of the inner ear hospital admissions were higher among females and thus confirm that females are more susceptible to inner ear disorders, which has already been revealed in previous epidemiological studies [16,35,37]. This can be attributed to multiple possible explanations: anxiety-evoked dizziness, where the mechanism is explained by a response to stressful environmental challenges through chronic vasopressin administration to guinea pigs, which leads to endolymphatic hydrops in a mechanism mimicking Meniere's disease pathology [38]. Interestingly, the prevalence of anxiety disorders was reported to be higher for females (23.4%) than for males (14.3%), which can justify why women are more likely to suffer from vestibular dysfunction [39].…”

Can Type of Dizziness Influence the Vestibular Caloric Test Result?

“…[25][26][27] Similarly, the low frequency of subjects with suspected diagnosis of a central vestibular disorder (N = 18/2.01%) could be associated with the non-referral of these individuals for vestibular evaluation, since it is a test that evaluates the peripheric portion of the vestibular system. 28 Females prevailed in the sample (N = 654/73.4%) of the total patients evaluated, which is consistent with other studies. [29][30][31] Possibly, hormonal variations and contraceptive use with changes in estrogen and progesterone concentration could influence the homeostasis of labyrinthine fluids, justifying the higher frequency of women in the study.…”

“…25 - 27 Similarly, the low frequency of subjects with suspected diagnosis of a central vestibular disorder (N = 18/2.01%) could be associated with the non-referral of these individuals for vestibular evaluation, since it is a test that evaluates the peripheric portion of the vestibular system. 28 …”

Recent advances in anxiety disorders: Focus on animal models and pathological mechanisms

“…The hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal (HPG) axis primarily regulates the secretion of sex hormones in humans. Studies have found that children in adolescence and adults in menopause are more prone to anxiety 89,90 . Gonadotropin‐inhibitory hormone (GnIH) is an inhibitor of the HPG axis.…”

“…Studies have found that children in adolescence and adults in menopause are more prone to anxiety. 89 , 90 Gonadotropin‐inhibitory hormone (GnIH) is an inhibitor of the HPG axis. Experiments have shown that intracerebroventricular injection of GnIH in male rats induces anxiety‐like behaviors.…”