Health perception in menopausal women

Introduction

Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death in the world. More than half (54%) of the 56.4 million deaths occurred in 2015 were due to ten causes. Ischemic heart disease and stroke were the biggest culprits, with up to 15 million deaths attributable to both of them in that year alone. Diabetes caused 1.6 million deaths. These diseases have been the main causes of global mortality for the past 15 years.¹

To optimize the preventive measures of cardiovascular diseases, it is essential that people have an adequate perception of cardiovascular risk factors, given that they lack specific symptoms, although they may present mild generic symptoms, with a loss of well-being that the patient should be able to perceive.^2–6

Perceived health status is one of the majorly used indicators when evaluating the real health of the population providing the first sight of the individual’s life satisfaction. It is one of the most consolidated and frequently asked indicators in health surveys. Although health perception measurement is subjective, there is a close relationship between health assessment and other consequences of such assessment acceptance. Generally, it has been shown that people who perceive their health as poor see their mortality increased due to cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and other diseases.^2–6

The relationship between sex and health perception is close. Women tend to have a worse perception of their own health than men at all ages, especially when they are over 50 years of age. This could be related to the onset of menopause, which, in turn, leads to an increase in cardiovascular risk. However, it is a fact that women universally have a higher life expectancy than men.

The excess of minor physical morbidity reported among women compared with men has been widely confirmed in large representative community population samples in North America and Europe. However, men have poorer health in chronic conditions related to the leading causes of death.⁷ Hospitalization rates are higher in men over 50 years of age, and hospital stays are longer⁸ for men compared with women.

In the face of this controversy, this study tries to answer whether the worsening of health perception was related to the menopausal (MNP) state or to the negative consequences on cardiometabolic risk factors and/or depression/anxiety presence.

Subjects

In this study, women ≥21 years of age who participated in the “Healthy Heart” Cardiovascular Disease Prevention Program were included. This study was designed to identify the prevalence in the population of cardiovascular diseases and risk factors. Exclusion criteria were as follows: <21 years, pregnant, or disability and/or inability to sign the informed consent or complete the studies required by the protocol.

Sample calculation

The present study is an epidemiological, cross-sectional, exploratory, and a posteriori inferential one. The field work was carried out in the towns of Villa María (Córdoba) and Rancúl (La Pampa), Argentina.

The sample size was estimated considering a proportion of poor health perception of 50% (proportion in which the largest sample size is required), with an estimation error of 2% and an estimated loss ratio of 10%. The sample size needed was 2,415 women.

The sampling was multistage, stratified by sex and age, based on previous records of the population. The work was carried out in the Primary Health Care Centers of both locations.

A probabilistic sample of the population of the city was extracted, which means that the selection was done in such a way that every subject of the population (and, therefore, of every subject within each group of expected age) will have a nonzero probability and known in advance to be chosen. Specifically, a multistage stratified sampling was applied.

The sampling was multistage, considering the nominal population in charge of each Primary Health Care Center (PHC) of the mentioned municipalities (Villa María y Rancúl), with representation of all the strata of age contemplated in the design.

The final selected sample included 2,562 women, corresponding to 2,294 women in the city of Villa María and 268 in the town of Rancúl (Figure 1).

Figure 1 Flow chart of women enrolled in the study.

Methods

Blood pressure and heart rate

Three records of blood pressure and heart rate were obtained, with an interval of 2 minutes between each measurement, considering the average of the last two as a valid measure. The blood pressure was taken in the sitting position with the arm supported at rest at heart level.

An electronic digital sphygmomanometer (OMRON model HEM 7200-E) validated by the British Hypertension Society and the European Hypertension Society was used.

Weight and height

Weight (in kilograms) and height (in centimeters) were measured using a properly calibrated weighing scale with altimeter. The weight and height measurements were taken with the subjects not wearing shoes and wearing light clothing as a measurement parameter.

Waist circumference

The circumference of the waist was measured at a midpoint between the rib flange and the iliac crest with the participant standing, with the torso exposed, both arms on the sides of the body and in unintended exhalation.

Blood determinations

Blood samples were collected from the participants after 12-hour fasting. Glycemia, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and triglycerides were determined.

Hypertension

Hypertension was defined as systolic blood pressure (SBP) ≥140 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure (DBP) ≥90 mmHg (5) and/or the current use of antihypertensive drugs.⁹

Smoking

People who, at the time of the survey, reported having smoked daily or occasionally were considered smokers; those who had never smoked and those who had not smoked for more than 6 months were considered nonsmokers.

Overweight – obesity

Body mass index (BMI) was calculated using the Quetelet Index (weight/height squared). A BMI between 20 and 24.9 kg/m² defined as normal, 25–29.9 kg/m² as overweight, and ≥30 kg/m² obesity. Abdominal obesity was considered when waist circumference was ≥88 cm.¹⁰

Diabetes

Abnormal fasting plasma glucose (FPG) was considered when blood glucose was ≥100 mg/dL and diabetes when fasting blood glucose was ≥126 mg/dL and/or current use of hypoglycemic agents and/or insulin.¹¹

Dyslipidemia

Dyslipidemia was defined as such when the analysis performed yielded one or more of the following results: total cholesterol ≥200 mg/dL and/or HDL cholesterol ≤50 mg/dL, and/or triglycerides ≥150 mg/dL or current treatment with drugs lipid-lowering agents.¹²

Metabolic syndrome

ATP III criteria¹⁰ was used, which defines the metabolic syndrome as the presence of three of the following five traits: 1) abdominal obesity, defined as a waist circumference in women ≥88 cm; 2) serum triglycerides ≥150 mg/dL or drug treatment for elevated triglycerides; 3) serum HDL cholesterol <50 mg/dL in women or drug treatment for low HDL cholesterol; 4) blood pressure ≥130/85 mmHg or drug treatment for elevated blood pressure; and 5) FPG ≥100 mg/dL or drug treatment for elevated blood glucose.

Anxiety/depression

Anxiety/depression evaluated with HADS, as an approximation to the state of mind. It assessed depressive and anxious symptoms, rating the severity of the symptom. HADS is a self-applied questionnaire with 14 items. Two subscales of 7 items each, on a Likert scale of 0–3. HAD anxiety: odd items, and HAD Depression: even elements, with a score range on each subscale of 0–21. Higher score, greater anxiety and depression. For both subscales scores, >11 would indicate “case.”¹³

The population educational level was stratified into four: 1) incomplete primary education equals <5 years of education, 2) complete primary education equals 6–7 years of education, 3) incomplete/complete secondary education equals 8–12 years of education and 4) tertiary university/incomplete/complete to >12 years of education.

Menopause was considered when the woman presented amenorrhea for 1 year or more.¹⁴

Statistical analysis

The descriptive statistical analysis was performed from the summary measurements and the comparisons were made applying bivariate analyses with parametric or nonparametric tests, as appropriate. We work with 95% CI.

A descriptive analysis of mean and SD for quantitative variables and frequency for qualitative variables was performed. For the comparison of qualitative variables, the chi-squared test was used; and for the quantitative variables, the Student’s t-test was used before studying the homogeneity of variables. Logistic regression models were fitted with a backward method from the potentially confusing variables of the menopause study groups. The ORs and their 95% CI are presented in all tests. All data analyses were performed using the SPSS Version 20 package. All P-values were two-tailed, and the cutoff of significant level was defined as P<0.05. The work was approved by the ethical committee of the University Hospital Favaloro Foundation.

Results

In this study, 2,811 women were recruited, of which 249 were withdrawn from the study due to lack of data in the survey; the final valid population was 2,562 women (Figure 1). The average age was 49.4 (±15.9); 10.4% belonged to semi-rural population and the rest to urban population; 87.5% of the population had one child or more than one; 40.9% of the population worked outside their home. Regarding the educational level, 22.1% of the population had <5 years of education, 31.3% had between 6 and 7 years, 33.4% had between 8 and 12 years and 13.2% had over 12 years of education (Table 1).

Table 1 Sociodemographic characteristics of the women population with respect to education Notes: The educational level of the population was stratified into four: 1) incomplete primary education equals <5 years of education, 2) complete primary education equals 6–7 years of education, 3) incomplete/complete secondary education equals 8–12 years of education, and 4) tertiary university/incomplete/complete to >12 years of education. The 64.7% of women have completed primary and/or secondary education.

In our study, 1,357 (53%) women were MNP and 1,205 (47%) were non-MNP. The 249 excluded women presented similar characteristics to those who remained in the study.

Blood sample for analytical was obtained from 2,283 women (89%). The characteristics of MNP and non-MNP women are shown in Table 2. There are statistically significant differences (P<0.001) in age, SBP and DBP, heart rate, lipid profile, glycemia, and waist circumference.

Table 2 Baseline characteristics of the studied population N=2,562 Note: There are statistically significant differences in age, SBP and DBP, heart rate, lipid profile, glycemia and waist circumference between menopausal and nonmenopausal women. Abbreviations: BMI, body mass index; HDLc, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol; HR (b/m), heart rate/beats per minute; LDLc, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol; WC, waist circumference.

BMI mean differs significantly between both groups. However, no differences were found in the overweight range. More women were found within normal weight among non-MNP women (P<0.001), and a higher prevalence of obesity among MNP women (P<0.001) was detected.

The prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors was significantly higher in MNP women, except for smoking that was higher in non-MNP women. All differences were statistically significant (Table 3).

Table 3 Risk factor and metabolic syndrome in menopausal and nonmenopausal women Notes: The prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors was significantly higher in menopausal women, except for smoking that was higher in nonmenopausal women. High blood pressure, blood pressure ≥140/90 mmHg or drug treatment for elevated blood pressure; Hypertriglyceridemia triglycerides, ≥150 mg/dL or drug treatment for elevated triglycerides. Hypercholesterolemia, total cholesterol ≥200 mg/dL or drug treatment for elevated total cholesterol. Metabolic syndrome, defined by ATP III presence of any three of the following five traits: 1) abdominal obesity, defined as a waist circumference in women ≥88 cm, 2) Serum triglycerides ≥150 mg/dL or drug treatment for elevated triglycerides, 3) Serum HDLc <50 mg/dL in women or drug treatment for low HDLc, 4) Blood pressure ≥130/85 mmHg or drug treatment for elevated blood pressure, 5) Fasting plasma glucose (FPG) ≥100 mg/dL or drug treatment for elevated blood glucose. Abbreviations: HDLc, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol; 95% CI, 95% confidence interval; LDLc, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol.

As variables can influence the perception of health, the anxiety and depression tests were performed using the HADS scale, considering a pathological score ≥11 for both. We did not find any differences in the prevalence of depression (12.2 vs 15.5, P=ns) or anxiety (20.7 vs 27.3, P=ns) between MNP and non-MNP women.

Health was perceived as worse among MNP women (P<0.05). Patients under 45 years of age also had a better perception of health than older patients (Table 4). For the subsequent analysis of health perception, we divided the samples into three categories: good, very good, and excellent into a single category (good or more) and maintaining the regular and bad categories.

Table 4 Perception of health by age groups and menopausal status Note: Health is perceived worse in MNP women, and patients under 45 years showed better health perception than older patients. Abbreviation: MNP, menopausal.

We found a relationship between the negative perception of health with metabolic syndrome, depression, and anxiety, having children, smoking, residing in rural area, and low educational level; nevertheless, it does not correlate with MNP status (Table 5).

Table 5 Variables that negatively influence the perception of health Notes: Model that explains the poor perceived health. The negative perception of health is related with metabolic syndrome, depression and anxiety, having children, smoking, residing in rural area and low educational level; nevertheless, it does not correlate with menopausal status.

Discussion

The main finding of the present study was that self-reported poor health was strongly associated with metabolic syndrome, depression and anxiety, having children, smoking, residing in rural or semi-rural areas and low educational level; nevertheless, it does not correlate with menopause.

The advantages of this study were the well-defined study population, as well as the response rate of almost 100%. Other strength was the focus on a large random sample of the Argentinean population.

In this study, it was possible to simultaneously control variables such as age, self-reported health status, educational level, etc. Population was large enough to analyze data separately in relation to non-MNP and MNP women and two age groups.

These types of surveys have a long tradition; therefore, there is a considerable amount of experience associated with it. The questions were well validated and have been consistent over the years, according to the HAD Scale,¹³ and they have a high reliability.

Health surveys suggest that women generally perceive their health worse than men; that health professionals tend to overestimate our state of health; and that aging increases negative perception of their health (phenomenon of underestimation of health).¹³ Depression is an important mental health problem that impairs personal functioning and affects one in four women in their lifetime.^15,16 It has been suggested that estrogen deficiency may increase the susceptibility to depression.¹⁷

Results on this study indicate that health was perceived as worse in MNP women (P<0.05) compared with non-MNP women. Patients younger than 45 years had a better perception of health than older patients.

We found a relationship between the negative perception of health and metabolic syndrome, depression, and anxiety, having children, smoking, residing in rural areas and low educational level; nevertheless, it does not correlate with menopause.

Results on this study contrast with those of Yen et al.¹⁸ A total of 672 Aboriginal women aged between 40 and 60 years (mean age: 49.43±5.33) were studied, of which 182 (38.3%) were classified as the depressive group. Conclusions drawn on that study were that perimenopausal states were associated with depression and women with a perimenopausal state had a higher prevalence of depression than those with a premenopausal state. Somatic symptoms were associated with depression for pre, peri, and postmenopausal states. What the authors related to depression is not exactly the MNP state, but the presence of vasomotor somatic symptoms.

In this study, negative perception of health associated with metabolic syndromes was found, which is in agreement with the previous findings of Burger et al, establishing that menopause is accompanied by adverse changes, including altered serum lipid profiles, hormonal changes, and neuroendocrine and immune system changes.^19–21

Hypertension was related to poor perceived health in women but not in men. Likewise, women with poor self-perceived health were much more likely to be obese than women with good health.²

The study showed a negative perception of health related to depression, anxiety and residing in rural areas; in accordance with the results of Yen et al¹⁸ that related vasomotor symptoms with depression. The association between depression and perimenopausal status demonstrates that depression is also an important mental health issue for women going through MNP transition in rural areas. Physiological MNP symptoms were the factors most associated with depression, under control of psychosocial factors mentioned above in the present study. These results may also suggest a possible biological link between depression and MNP symptoms.

Results in this study showed that smoking has an inverse correlation with the perception of health, in concordance with other studies which confirm that both smoking men and women who had no regular physical activity perceived their health as worse than nonsmokers and physically active persons. Both men and women with poor self-perceived health were about twice as likely to be smokers.²

Lower educational levels were related to the ability to estimate risk and, thus, intelligence and other cognitive functions may further explain such ability.²² Individuals who had a university/college education were less likely to perceive their health as poor.² On the other hand, a low educational level (<9 years) was also associated with increased mortality risks for men and women.²³

Alcohol consumption was also related to ability to estimate risk, but this relation is not easy to understand and needs further confirmation.²²

In this study, it was found that having children has an inverse correlation with the perception of health. This is probably related to the findings of Lui Filho²⁴ who found that the number of births is associated with more severe symptoms of menopause in Brazilian women.

Results in this study should be interpreted in the light of three limitations. First, the stigmatization of mental health disorders might make women unwilling to admit their depression in the interviewing study. Second, the cross-sectional research design of the present study could not confirm causal correlations between MNP symptoms and depression. Third, women with MNP symptoms were not separated from the rest. However, given the large sample selected, this point could have been diluted.

Conclusions

Perceived health should be viewed as a multifaceted condition related to social circumstances, and various symptoms in women, including MNP symptoms, but not with menopause itself.

Acknowledgment

Fundación CERTUS Villa María. Córdoba. Argentina. The abstract of this paper was presented at the 28th European Meeting on Hypertension and vascular Protection as a poster presentation. The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.

Disclosure

The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.

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