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Abstract: Background: Muscle and joint aches (MJA) are frequently observed among menopausal women. They impair quality of life and are a burden to the healthcare system. Objective: To analyze the relation between MJA and several variables related to the menopause. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 8373 healthy women aged 40–59 years, accompanying patients to healthcare centers in 18 cities of 12 Latin American countries, were asked to fill out the Menopause Rating Scale (MRS) and a questionnaire containing personal data. Results: Mean age of the whole sample was 49.1±5.7 years, 48.6% were postmenopausal and 14.7% used hormone therapy (HT). A 63.0% of them presented MJA, with a 15.6% being scored as severe to very severe according to the MRS (scores 3 or 4). Logistic regression model determined that vasomotor symptoms (OR: 6.16; 95% CI, 5.25–7.24), premature menopause (OR: 1.58; 95% CI, 1.02–2.45), postmenopausal status (OR: 1.43; 95% CI, 1.20–1.69), psychiatric consultation (OR: 1.93; 95% CI, 1.60–2.32) and the use of psychotropic drugs (OR: 1.35; 95% CI, 1.08–1.69) were significantly related to the presence of severe-very severe MJA. Other significant variables included: age, tobacco consumption and lower education. Self perception of healthiness (OR: 0.49; 95% CI, 0.41–0.59), private healthcare access (OR: 0.77; 95% CI, 0.67–0.88) and HT use (OR: 0.75; 95% CI, 0.62–0.91) were significantly related to a lower risk for the presence of severe-very severe MJA. Conclusion: In this large mid-aged sample the prevalence of MJA was high, which was significantly associated to menopausal variables, especially vasomotor symptoms. This association may suggest a potential role of mid-life female hormonal changes in the pathogenesis of MJA. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Background: Several studies indicate that quality of life (QoL) is impaired in middle aged women. Assessment of QoL using a single validated tool in Latin American climacteric women has not been reported to date at large scale. Objective: The Menopause Rating Scale (MRS) was used to assess QoL among middle aged Latin American women and determine factors associated with severe menopausal symptoms (QoL impairment). Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 8373 healthy women aged 40–59 years, accompanying patients to healthcare centres in 18 cities of 12 Latin American countries, were asked to fill out the MRS and a questionnaire containing socio-demographic, female and partner data. Results: Mean age of the entire sample was 49.1±5.7 years (median 49), a 62.5% had 12 or less years of schooling, 48.8% were postmenopausal and 14.7% were on hormonal therapy (HT). Mean total MRS score (n =8373) was 11.3±8.5 (median 10); for the somatic subscale, 4.1±3.4; the psychological subscale, 4.6±3.8 and the urogenital subscale, 2.5±2.7. The prevalence of women presenting moderate to severe total MRS scorings was high (>50%) in all countries, Chile and Uruguay being the ones with the highest percentages (80.8% and 67.4%, respectively). Logistic regression determined that impaired QoL (severe total MRS score ≥17) was associated with the use of alternatives therapies for menopause (OR: 1.47, 95% CI [1.22–1.76], p =0.0001), the use of psychiatric drugs (OR: 1.57, 95% CI [1.29–1.90], p =0.0001), attending a psychiatrist (OR: 1.66, 95% CI [1.41–1.96], p =0.0001), being postmenopausal (OR: 1.48, 95% CI [1.29–1.69, p =0.0001]), having 49 years or more (OR: 1.24, 95% CI [1.08–1.42], p =0.001), living at high altitude (OR: 1.43, 95% CI [1.25–1.62, p =0.0001]) and having a partner with erectile dysfunction (OR: 1.69, 95% CI [1.47–1.94, p =0.0001]) or premature ejaculation (OR: 1.34, 95% CI [1.16–1.55, p =0.0001]). Lower risk for impaired QoL was related to living in a country with a lower income (OR: 0.77, 95% CI [0.68–0.88], p =0.0002), using HT (OR: 0.65, 95% CI [0.56–0.76], p =0.0001) and engaging in healthy habits (OR: 0.59, 95% CI [0.50–0.69], p =0.0001). Conclusion: To the best of our knowledge this is the first and largest study assessing QoL in a Latin American climacteric series with a high prevalence of impairment related to individual female and male characteristics and the demography of the studied population. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]