Background: Menopause, defined as the full cessation of the menstrual cycle for more than twelve months, is a natural physiological phase that is directly induced by the decrease of estrogen levels. A group of conditions that consists of insulin resistance, central obesity, hypertension, and dyslipidemia is called metabolic syndrome. In older women, the menopause itself raises the risk of metabolic syndrome.
Aim: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between menopausal symptoms and metabolic syndrome in postmenopausal women.
Methods: A cross-sectional study that split menopausal women into two groups based on whether or not they had metabolic syndrome. The research was conducted at Suez Canal University Hospital's obstetrics and gynecology department. We used menopausal rating scale to assess menopausal symptoms in two women groups, one group consists of women with metabolic syndrome according to WHO definition while the other group was free.
Results: The median age was 57 years and 55 years among postmenopausal women without metabolic syndrome and those without respectively. BMI, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, fasting blood sugar, serum triglycerides and waist circumference were significantly higher among women with metabolic syndrome. While serum HDL had a significant lower level in women with metabolic syndrome. All somatic and psychological domains were significantly higher among women with metabolic syndrome compared to women without metabolic syndrome. Bladder symptoms were significantly higher among women with metabolic syndrome. There were 6.2% and 5.6% had asymptomatic, 91.9% and 94.4% had mild to moderate and 1.9% and 0 had severe to very severe menopausal symptoms among menopausal women with and without metabolic syndrome respectively. Psychological domain was significantly correlated with fasting blood sugar serum triglycerides and waist circumference. Total Menopause Rating Scale had significant positive correlation with systolic and diastolic blood pressure, waist circumference, fasting blood sugar and serum triglycerides. Using univariate binary logistic regression, only serum triglycerides had a significant association with severity of Menopause Rating Scale.
Conclusion: There was a significant increase in sleeping issues, irritability, depressed mood, anxiety, and problems voiding mental and physical exhaustion in cases with metabolic syndrome.