TY - JOUR
T1 - Ethnicity and vasomotor symptoms in postmenopausal women
AU - Appling, Susan
AU - Paez, Kathryn
AU - Allen, Jerilyn
PY - 2007/10/1
Y1 - 2007/10/1
N2 - Objective: To determine if there is a difference in the prevalence of vasomotor symptoms between African American and white postmenopausal women. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study to evaluate baseline vasomotor symptoms in postmenopausal women enrolled in a randomized, placebo-controlled trial of dietary soy supplements. The Menopause-Specific Quality of Life Questionnaire (MENQOL) vasomotor subscale was used to measure vasomotor symptoms, including hot flashes and night sweats. Results: In total, 104 African American and 112 white postmenopausal women (mean age 56.8 ± 5.6 years) were studied. A multiple linear regression analysis, which controlled for differences in body mass index (BMI) and dietary fat intake, showed that race and age were significantly and independently associated with vasomotor symptoms, explaining 10% of the variance (p < 0.001). Being African American and younger age were associated with increased vasomotor symptoms. Conclusions: The most prevalent postmenopausal symptoms were vasomotor symptoms, which were more bothersome in African American women compared with white women. Factors associated with vasomotor symptoms included race, BMI, and dietary intake of fat calories. Implications for practice include increasing provider awareness to discuss vasomotor symptoms and the need for treatment in postmenopausal African American women. Further research to increase our understanding of racial differences and associated factors that influence the duration and intensity of vasomotor symptoms experienced by postmenopausal women is needed.
AB - Objective: To determine if there is a difference in the prevalence of vasomotor symptoms between African American and white postmenopausal women. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study to evaluate baseline vasomotor symptoms in postmenopausal women enrolled in a randomized, placebo-controlled trial of dietary soy supplements. The Menopause-Specific Quality of Life Questionnaire (MENQOL) vasomotor subscale was used to measure vasomotor symptoms, including hot flashes and night sweats. Results: In total, 104 African American and 112 white postmenopausal women (mean age 56.8 ± 5.6 years) were studied. A multiple linear regression analysis, which controlled for differences in body mass index (BMI) and dietary fat intake, showed that race and age were significantly and independently associated with vasomotor symptoms, explaining 10% of the variance (p < 0.001). Being African American and younger age were associated with increased vasomotor symptoms. Conclusions: The most prevalent postmenopausal symptoms were vasomotor symptoms, which were more bothersome in African American women compared with white women. Factors associated with vasomotor symptoms included race, BMI, and dietary intake of fat calories. Implications for practice include increasing provider awareness to discuss vasomotor symptoms and the need for treatment in postmenopausal African American women. Further research to increase our understanding of racial differences and associated factors that influence the duration and intensity of vasomotor symptoms experienced by postmenopausal women is needed.
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U2 - 10.1089/jwh.2006.0033
DO - 10.1089/jwh.2006.0033
M3 - Article
C2 - 17937565
AN - SCOPUS:35348855182
SN - 1540-9996
VL - 16
SP - 1130
EP - 1138
JO - Journal of Women's Health
JF - Journal of Women's Health
IS - 8
ER -