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Background. Hot flushes (HFs) and night sweats are frequent complaints among both peri- and postmenopausal women. Perceived control of this complaint may vary from one population to another. Objective. To assess perceived control over menopausal HFs and determinant factors among mid-aged Ecuadorian women. Methods. In this cross-sectional study healthy women aged 40–59 years, seeking healthcare centres of eight main cities of Ecuador with more than 100,000 inhabitants, were assessed with the Menopause Rating Scale (MRS) and those presenting HFs were requested to fill out the Perceived Control Index (PCI) and a questionnaire containing socio-demographic data (female and partner). Results. A total of 1154 women participated in this study of which 56% presented HFs ( n = 646). According to the MRS, 29.1% and 9.1% of these HFs were graded as severe and very severe, respectively. Mean age of women presenting HFs was 49.5 ± 5.2 years, with 51.9% having 12 years or less of education, 61.5% being postmenopausal and 47.2% living in high altitude. At the moment of the survey 13.9% were on hormone therapy, 12.8% on phytoestrogens and 7.1% on psychotropic drugs. There was a significant decreasing trend for PCI scores (total and difficulty in control items) from one menopausal stage to the next, with no differences observed for time since menopause onset. Despite this, logistic regression analysis determined that HF severity, as determined with the MRS, was the only single predictive factor related to lower HF perceived control (total PCI score <38) (OR: 1.83 CI 95% [1.15–2.90], p < 0.01). Conclusion. As determined with the PCI, HF severity was related to a lower perceived control among mid-aged women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The prevalence of obesity increases during female mid-life and although many factors have been identified, data from Latin America is lacking. Objective To assess factors related to obesity among middle-aged women and determine the association with depressive symptoms, sedentary lifestyle and other factors. Methods A total of 6079 women aged 40–59 years of 11 Latin American countries were asked to fill out the Goldberg Anxiety and Depression Scale, the Menopause Rating Scale, the Athens Insomnia Scale, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and a general questionnaire containing personal socio-demographic data, anthropometric measures and lifestyle information. Obesity was defined as a body mass index (BMI) ≥30 kg/m 2 . Results Obesity was observed in 18.5% and sedentary lifestyle in 63.9%. A 55.5% presented vasomotor symptoms, 12.2% had severe menopausal symptoms and 13.2% used hormone therapy for the menopause. Prevalence of depressive symptoms was 46.5% and anxiety 59.7%. Our logistic regression model found that significant factors associated to obesity included: arterial hypertension (OR: 1.87), depressive symptoms (OR: 1.57), sedentary lifestyle (OR: 1.50) diabetes mellitus (OR: 1.34), higher number of individuals living at home (OR: 1.31), sleep problems (OR:1.22), anxiety (OR: 1.21), having a stable partner (OR: 1.20), parity (OR: 1.16) and vasomotor symptoms (OR:1.14). A lower risk for obesity was found among women using hormonal contraceptives (OR: 0.69). Conclusion Obesity in middle-aged women is the consequence of the interaction of multiple factors. It was associated to hypertension, depressive symptoms, sedentary lifestyle, climacteric symptoms and other factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Background: Hot flushes (HFs) and night sweats are frequent complaints among both peri- and postmenopausal women. Beliefs regarding these complaints may vary from one population to another. Objective: To assess HF beliefs and factors related to negative beliefs in a climacteric Hispanic population using the Hot Flush Beliefs Scale (HFBS). Methods: A total of 1154 healthy women (40–59 years) were assessed with the Menopause Rating Scale (MRS), those presenting HFs were requested to fill out the HFBS and a questionnaire containing socio-demographic data (female and partner). Results: A total of 646 presented HFs (56%) graded according to the first item of the MRS as mild (28.6%), moderate (33.2%), severe (29.1%) and very severe (9.1%). Mean age of these women was 49.5±5.2 years, with 51.9% having 12 or less years of education, 61.5% being postmenopausal and 47.2% living in high altitude. At the moment of the survey 13.9% were on HT, 12.8% on phytoestrogens and 7.1% on psychotropic drugs. Women strongly disagreed in more negatively oriented items of those contained in subscale one (beliefs about self in social context). Contrary to this, women strongly agreed in more negative oriented items contained in subscale two which assesses beliefs about coping with HFs. Women presenting with severe–very severe HFs displayed higher HFBS total and subscale scores indicating a more negative belief regarding HFs. Logistic regression analysis determined that HF severity was related to higher HFBS scores for the total and subscales one and two. Current smoking, higher parity, lower female education, female psychiatric consultation, time since menopause and partner unhealthiness and alcohol consumption were also related to higher HFBS scorings. Postmenopausal status and church attendance were related to lower scores. Conclusion: In this mid-aged Ecuadorian female series negative beliefs regarding HFs were related to the severity of HFs and individual female or partner characteristics. Data provided from clinical research using this tool, alone or in combination with other tests, is warranted. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]