[Climacteric syndrome in a Northeastern Brazilian city: a household survey]. / Síndrome climatérica em uma cidade do Nordeste brasileiro: um inquérito domiciliar.

PURPOSE: To assess the prevalence of Climacteric Syndrome (CS) in women from a municipality of Northeastern Brazil which is less developed socioeconomically. METHODS: A prospective household survey was performed in São Luís, Maranhão, Brazil with 1,210 climacteric women aged 45 to 60 years. Interviews were applied using previously tested standard questionnaires from April to July 2008. The severity of climacteric symptoms was analyzed by circulatory and psychological indexes and the latter were associated with menopausal status. Multiple correspondence analysis was used to assess the relation among climacteric symptoms. RESULTS: Most patients were 55 to 60 years old (35.3%), mulatto (37.9%), with 9-11 years of schooling (39.8%), with a partner (56%), Catholic (73.9%) and belonged to the socioeconomic class C (51.1%). The prevalence of CS was 85.9%, and hot flashes (56.4%) and sweating (50.4%) were the most prevalent symptoms. The most frequent psychological symptoms were nervousness (45%) and emotional liability (44.8%). The severity of vasomotor and psychological symptoms was significantly higher during the peri and postmenopausal period (p<0.05). Vaginal dryness (62.7%) was the most prevalent urogenital complaint. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of CS was high among women from São Luís, Maranhão, Brazil.

Síndrome climatérica em uma cidade do Nordeste brasileiro: um inquérito domiciliar / Climacteric syndrome in a Northeastern Brazilian city: a household survey

OBJETIVO: Avaliar a prevalência da Síndrome Climatérica (SC) em mulheres de São Luís, Maranhão, uma das regiões menos desenvolvidas do Nordeste brasileiro. MÉTODOS: Estudo descritivo e exploratório de corte transversal, tipo inquérito populacional domiciliar. Foram selecionadas 1.210 mulheres climatéricas de 45 a 60 anos de idade em São Luís, Maranhão, Brasil. As entrevistas foram aplicadas por meio de questionários, no período de abril a julho de 2008, contendo variáveis sociodemográficas, status menopausal e intensidade dos sintomas climatéricos (índices circulatório e psicológico), sendo que para estes últimos foi realizada a sua associação com os períodos pré e pós-menopausal. A técnica de Análise Correspondência Múltipla (ACM) foi utilizada para avaliar a inter-relação entre os sintomas climatéricos. RESULTADOS: A maioria das pacientes tinha entre 55 a 60 anos (35,3%), era de cor parda (37,9%), com 9 a 11 anos de escolaridade (39,8%), com parceiro (56%), católica (73,9%) e de classe social C (51,1%). A prevalência da SC foi de 85,9%, destacando-se fogachos (56,4%) e sudorese (50,4%) como os sintomas vasomotores mais prevalentes. Os sintomas psicológicos mais frequentes foram nervosismo (45%) e irritabilidade (44,8%). Houve predomínio do ressecamento vaginal (62,7%) como a queixa urogenital mais prevalente. A intensidade dos sintomas vasomotores e psicológicos foi significativamente mais elevada nas fases de peri e pós-menopausa (p<0,05). CONCLUSÃO: A prevalência da SC foi elevada em mulheres dessa cidade do Nordeste do Brasil. .

PURPOSE: To assess the prevalence of Climacteric Syndrome (CS) in women from a municipality of Northeastern Brazil which is less developed socioeconomically. METHODS: A prospective household survey was performed in São Luís, Maranhão, Brazil with 1,210 climacteric women aged 45 to 60 years. Interviews were applied using previously tested standard questionnaires from April to July 2008. The severity of climacteric symptoms was analyzed by circulatory and psychological indexes and the latter were associated with menopausal status. Multiple correspondence analysis was used to assess the relation among climacteric symptoms. RESULTS: Most patients were 55 to 60 years old (35.3%), mulatto (37.9%), with 9-11 years of schooling (39.8%), with a partner (56%), Catholic (73.9%) and belonged to the socioeconomic class C (51.1%). The prevalence of CS was 85.9%, and hot flashes (56.4%) and sweating (50.4%) were the most prevalent symptoms. The most frequent psychological symptoms were nervousness (45%) and emotional liability (44.8%). The severity of vasomotor and psychological symptoms was significantly higher during the peri and postmenopausal period (p<0.05). Vaginal dryness (62.7%) was the most prevalent urogenital complaint. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of CS was high among women from São Luís, Maranhão, Brazil. .

Stress urinary incontinence in climacteric women in a northeastern Brazilian municipality: a household survey.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: Low socioeconomic factors may influence the development of stress urinary incontinence (SUI). Thus far, there is little research available on SUI in developing countries. We aimed to determine whether the prevalence of SUI in a northeastern Brazilian municipality was higher or lower than in the general female population. METHODS: Cross-sectional household cluster study of 1,180 climacteric women in the São Luís municipality (Maranhão state, Brazil) was conducted using a standardized questionnaire that was previously tested in a pilot study and administered by interviewers to obtain socioeconomic and cultural information, climacteric aspects, and life habits related to SUI. RESULTS: From this population, 15.34% (n = 181) had SUI; this prevalence did not change with age. More than half (57.92%) of the patients replied that they had not consulted a physician for their SUI. The presence of SUI was not associated with any socioeconomic or gynecological variables after multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of SUI in São Luís was similar to the rates observed in the general global female population. Socioeconomic and gynecological variables were not associated with SUI.