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Objective: This study aimed to examine the association between severity of menopausal symptoms and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk among middle-aged Chinese women., Methods: A cross-sectional study recruited 9679 women aged 40-70 years from three socioeconomic regions of China in 2018. Menopausal symptoms were assessed by the modified Kupperman Menopausal Index (KMI). The severity of individual symptoms was classified as none (0 points), mild (1 points) and moderate-to-severe symptoms (2-3 points), and overall menopausal symptoms were classified as none (<15 points), mild (15-24 points) or moderate-to-severe (≥25 points) according to the sum score of the KMI. Logistic regression models were used to examine associations of the severity of menopausal symptoms with CVD risk., Results: A total of 5.6% of participants reported being diagnosed with CVD. Overall menopausal symptoms were more common in women aged 60-70 years than in women aged 40-59 years. After multiple adjustment, mild (odds ratio [OR] = 2.07, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.64-2.61) and moderate-to-severe (OR = 2.64, 95% CI: 1.92-3.63) overall menopausal symptoms were associated with increased risk of CVD compared with no symptoms. Significant positive associations between the severity of individual menopausal symptoms and CVD risk were observed for all 13 items., Conclusion: The severity of menopausal symptoms was positively associated with CVD risk in middle-aged Chinese women.

Objectives: To examine the prevalence and risk factors of menopausal symptoms in middle-aged Chinese women., Methods: A cross-sectional, community-based study recruited 6,745 women aged 40 to 55 years in the eastern, central, and western regions of China during 2018. Menopausal status was categorized into reproductive stage (defined as regular menstruation or subtle changes in menstrual cycle characteristics), menopausal transition (the beginning of a persistent difference of 7 d in the length of consecutive cycles, or the last menstruation having occurred no more than 12 mo), or postmenpause (the end of the 12 mo period of amenorrhea) according to the Stages of Reproductive Aging Workshop classification. Menopausal symptoms were determined by the modified Kupperman Menopausal Index (KMI) questionnaire and considered nonmenopausal symptoms (total KMI score<15) and menopausal symptoms (total KMI score≥15). Demographic, lifestyle, physical, and menopausal characteristics were collected by face-to-face interviews. Logistic regression models were used to identify factors associated with the risk of menopausal symptoms., Results: Among all participants, the mean age was 46.9 years, and 15.7% (1,001/6,364) of participants reported experiencing menopausal symptoms. The prevalence of menopausal symptoms was 9.3% (303/3,256), 23.9% (293/1,227), and 21.5% (405/1,881) in the reproductive stage, menopausal transition, and postmenopausal stage, respectively. Overall, the three most prevalent menopausal symptoms were insomnia (44.7%), fatigue (40.4%), and mood swings (37.2%). The multivariable logistic regression model showed that menopausal status, residence, nulliparity, and chronic diseases were associated with the risk of menopausal symptoms (all P < 0.05). Women during menopausal transition (OR = 2.66, 95% CI: 2.21-3.20) or postmenopause (OR = 2.26, 95% CI: 1.82-2.80) had significantly increased risk of menopausal symptoms compared with those in the reproductive stage., Conclusions: Menopausal status, residence, nulliparity, and chronic diseases were associated with menopausal symptoms in middle-aged Chinese women., Competing Interests: Financial disclosures/conflicts of interest: None reported., (Copyright © 2021 The Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. on behalf of The North American Menopause Society.)