Menopausal symptoms and the menopausal rating scale among midlife chinese women in Macau, China.

Studies on menopause-related quality of life (QoL), especially using the Menopausal Rating Scale (MRS), in Asian women are scarce. This study surveyed menopausal symptoms in a convenience sample of 442 Chinese women aged 40-60 years who attended the Well-Women Clinic, Macau, China, in a public health center. The questionnaire included sociodemographic data, the MRS, and a novel question on which area of QoL was affected. The average age of the participants was 49.2±5.08 years, and 98.9% of them reported experiencing menopausal symptoms. The four most prevalent menopausal symptoms were physical and mental exhaustion (90.3%), joint and muscle discomfort (88.5%), irritability (78.1%), and sleep problems (77.1%). The average MRS score was 14.2±8.80. A severe MRS score (≥17) was found in 35.5% of participants. Severe scores in the psychological, somatic, and urogenital MRS subscales were found in 17.9%, 42.8%, and 34.8%, of women, respectively. Menopausal symptoms affected QoL in 57.2% of women: daily life in 36.7%, work in 29.2%, sexual life in 17.0%, and relationship with husband in 13.8%. Daily life was significantly affected by hot flushes and joint/muscular discomfort; work was reportedly affected by irritability and exhaustion; sexual life was reported to be affected by hot flushes, sexual problems, and vaginal dryness, and relationship with husband was affected by sexual problems. We concluded that menopausal symptoms were highly prevalent among midlife Chinese women and often affected their QoL. The MRS, however, did not have a high sensitivity in detecting impaired QoL.

Stress urinary incontinence in younger women in primary care: prevalence and opportunistic intervention.

BACKGROUND: Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) is prevalent in females, even among young adults. Though their quality of life (QOL) is impaired and pelvic floor exercise is an effective treatment, not many affected women seek medical help. This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of case finding and opportunistic intervention of SUI at a public Well Women Clinic in Macau, China. METHOD: A convenience sample of 408 consecutive female patients aged 30-50 years filled in the Urogenital Distress Inventory Short Form and the Incontinence Impact Questionnaire Short Form. They were also asked reasons for not seeking for medical help. The patients with incontinence were educated on pelvic floor muscle exercise during the gynecological examination. RESULTS: SUI was reported by 153 (37.5%) women, of whom 47 (30.7%) had impaired quality of life despite mild symptoms. Of the SUI patients, 52.9% thought that incontinence was inevitable with age, 22.2% believed that they should cope with the problem themselves, 13.7% thought that no useful treatment was available, and 3.9% had sought medical advice before. After learning pelvic floor muscle exercise for 4 to 6 months, 9.8% of SUI patients had complete relief of the symptoms, 47% partial improvement, and 17.6% no significant change. CONCLUSIONS: SUI with impaired quality of life was common before menopause. Very few affected women sought medical help. Opportunistic case finding and education about pelvic floor exercise in a Well Women Clinic were effective in the detection and treatment of the silent SUI.

Chinese men's knowledge and risk factors of osteoporosis: compared with women's.

Male osteoporosis is underappreciated. Little is known about men's knowledge of osteoporosis and how much men are at risk. This study surveyed men's knowledge of osteoporosis and their risk factors with reference to women in the primary care setting in Macau, China. A convenience sample of 302 men and 635 women aged 18 to 90 years completed questionnaires comprising the Osteoporosis Knowledge Assessment Tool and the One-Minute Osteoporosis Risk Test. Their risks of osteoporosis were assessed with the Osteoporosis Self-Assessment Screening Test. Men and women, who were aged 55 years or below, had similarly limited knowledge of osteoporosis. People aged above 55 years had significantly less knowledge; men had less knowledge than women only in this age-group. If questions specific to women or menopause were excluded, men had similar knowledge as women. A higher proportion of men than women had risk factors as more men consumed alcohol or smoked tobacco. Similar proportions of men and women reported a loss of 1 inch in body height after age 40. After age 55, 29.2% men were at medium to high risk of osteoporosis. This study concludes that health education and primary prevention of osteoporosis should be promoted to men starting in middle-age.

In a free healthcare system, why do men not consult for lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS)?

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) varies among different populations but the rate of seeking medical advice is consistently low. Little is known about the reasons for this low rate. In the city of Macau, China, primary healthcare is free and easily accessible to all citizens. We aim to study the patients' rate of consulting for LUTS and their reasons for not consulting under a free healthcare system. METHOD: A convenience sample of 549 male patients aged 40-85 years in a government health centre filled in the International Prostate Symptoms Scale (IPSS) questionnaire. They were also asked if they had consulted doctors for LUTS, and if not, why not. RESULT: Of the whole sample, 64 men (11.7%) had ever consulted doctors for LUTS. Of 145 with moderate to severe LUTS, 35 (24.1%) consulted. Of 73 who were dissatisfied with their quality of life, 22 (30.1%) consulted. Regarding the symptoms as normal or not problematic was the main reason for not consulting. Advancing age and duration of symptoms were the significant factors for consulting. CONCLUSION: Primary care doctors could help many of LUTS patients by sensitively initiating the discussion when these patients consult for other problems.