Number of Caregiving Hours Affect Menopause Symptom Burden
By Elana Gotkine HealthDay Reporter
THURSDAY, Feb. 13, 2025 -- Caregiving is associated with menopause symptom burden, according to a study published in the January issue of the Mayo Clinic Proceedings.
Mariam Saadedine, M.D., from the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida, and colleagues conducted a cross-sectional analysis among women aged 45 to 60 years receiving primary care at one of four Mayo Clinic geographic locations and who completed a survey study. Data were included for 4,295 women, 19.7 percent of whom self-identified as caregivers.
Overall, 37.6 percent of the women reported moderate to very severe menopause symptoms. The researchers found that as the number of caregiving hours increased, the proportion of women with moderate or worse menopause symptoms in at least one symptom domain increased: 34.1, 42.6, and 50.4 percent for those with less than five, five to 14, and 15 or more hours of caregiving per week, respectively. In a univariate analysis, compared with no caregiving, caregiving for 15 or more hours per week significantly increased the odds of having moderate or worse menopause symptoms in at least one symptom domain (odds ratio, 1.77). After adjustment for potential confounders, the association remained significant in a multivariable analysis (odds ratio, 1.37).
"These findings shed light on an unexplored intersection of the menopause and caregiving experiences of midlife women," the authors write. "For clinicians, it underscores the importance of an integrated approach to recognizing and addressing caregiving as an influential factor in the menopause experience."
Several authors disclosed ties to the pharmaceutical and medical education industries.
Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.
© 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Posted February 2025
Read this next
Odds of Advanced Cancer, Breast Cancer Death Lower in Screen-Detected Disease
THURSDAY, June 5, 2025 -- For patients aged 40 years or older, screen-detected breast cancer is associated with lower odds of advanced cancer, mastectomy, and breast...
Cardiorespiratory Effects of Smoke Fine Particulate Matter From Wildfires Can Persist for Months
THURSDAY, June 5, 2025 -- The cardiorespiratory effects of smoke fine particulate matter (PM2.5), a primary wildfire emission that can spike for months after a wildfire begins...
Plant-Based Diet Tied to Weight Loss, Fewer Hot Flashes in Postmenopausal Women
THURSDAY, June 5, 2025 -- A plant-based diet rich in soy, regardless of the level of processing, may benefit both hot flash and weight management in postmenopausal women...
More news resources
- FDA Medwatch Drug Alerts
- Daily MedNews
- News for Health Professionals
- New Drug Approvals
- New Drug Applications
- Drug Shortages
- Clinical Trial Results
- Generic Drug Approvals
Subscribe to our newsletter
Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.