Menopausal symptoms and associated factors in HIV-positive women

• Published in: Maturitas 2013-10, Vol.76 (2), p.172-178
• Main Authors: Lui-Filho, Jeffrey F, Valadares, Ana Lúcia R, Gomes, Debora de C, Amaral, Eliana, Pinto-Neto, Aarão M, Costa-Paiva, Lúcia
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Brazil; Cross-Sectional Studies; Depression; Depression - virology; Dermatology; Female; Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics; HIV; HIV - isolation & purification; HIV Infections - immunology; HIV Infections - physiopathology; HIV Infections - virology; Hot flashes; Hot Flashes - virology; Human viral diseases; Humans; Infectious diseases; Internal Medicine; Medical sciences; Menopausal symptoms; Menopause; Menopause - physiology; Menopause - psychology; Middle Aged; Obstetrics and Gynecology; Prevalence; Puberal and climacteric disorders (male and female); Regression Analysis; Skin involvement in other diseases. Miscellaneous. General aspects; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders - virology; Surveys and Questionnaires; Sweating - physiology; Vascular disorders of the skin; Viral diseases; Viral diseases of the lymphoid tissue and the blood. Aids
• ISSN: 0378-5122; 1873-4111
• DOI: 10.1016/j.maturitas.2013.07.012

Abstract Objective To evaluate menopausal symptoms and their associated factors in HIV-positive women. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted with 537 women of 40–60 years of age, 273 of whom were HIV-positive and 264 HIV-negative. The women were interviewed to obtain data on their sociodemographic characteristics and menopausal symptoms. Results The mean age of the seropositive women was 47.7 ± 5.8 years compared to 49.8 ± 5.3 for the seronegative women ( p < 0.001). Bivariate analysis showed a lower prevalence of vasomotor symptoms in the seropositive group ( p = 0.009), specifically hot flashes ( p < 0.002) and sweating ( p = 0.049). Vaginal dryness was also less prevalent in this group ( p < 0.005). There were no statistically significant differences between the groups with respect to depression or insomnia. Multiple analysis showed that hot flashes were associated with being peri- or postmenopausal (PR = 2.12; 95%CI: 1.52–2.94). Vaginal dryness was less common in women without a partner (PR = 0.67; 95%CI: 0.49–0.90) and was associated with older age (PR = 1.03; 95%CI: 1.01–1.06) and being in the peri- or postmenopause (PR = 1.69; 95%CI: 1.10–2.60). Depression was inversely associated with being employed (PR = 0.74; 95%CI: 0.58–0.96) and directly associated with the presence of chronic diseases (PR = 1.30; 95%CI: 1.01–1.067). Insomnia was associated with a lower body mass index (PR = 0.96; 95%CI: 0.95–0.97) and with being peri- or postmenopausal (PR = 1.48; 95%CI: 1.11–1.97). No correlation was found between HIV serological status and any of the menopausal symptoms. Conclusions In this study, after controlling for confounding variables, HIV infection was not found to be associated with vasomotor, genitourinary or psychological symptoms or with insomnia.