Hot flushes among aging women: A 4-year follow-up study to a randomised controlled exercise trial.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this follow-up study was to explore the long-term effects of a 6-month trial of exercise training on hot flushes. The follow-up was 4 years after the exercise intervention ended. STUDY DESIGN: A cohort study after a randomised controlled trial. Ninety-five of the 159 randomised women (60%) participated in anthropometric measurements and performed a 2-km walk test. Participants completed a questionnaire and kept a one-week diary on physical activity, menopause symptoms and sleep quality. The frequency of 24-h hot flushes was multiplied by severity and the total sum for one week was defined as the Hot Flush Score (HFScore). Multilevel mixed regression models were analysed to compare the exercise and control groups. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Hot Flush Score (HFScore) as assessed with the one-week symptom diary. RESULTS: The women in the exercise group had a higher probability of improved HFScore, i.e. a decrease in HFScore points, adjusted for hormone therapy (OR 0.95; 95% CI 0.90-1.00) than women in the control group at the 4-year follow-up. After additional adjustment for sleep quality, the result approached statistical significance at HFScore≥13 with women in the exercise group. Women who had the least amount of hot flushes, HFScore<13, benefited most from exercise during the 4-year follow-up when compared with women in the control group. CONCLUSIONS: Women in the exercise group had positive effects on their HFScore 4 years after a 6-month exercise intervention.

Long-term effect of physical activity on health-related quality of life among menopausal women: a 4-year follow-up study to a randomised controlled trial.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to explore the long-term effects of physical activity intervention on quality of life (QoL) 4 years after an original randomised controlled trial (RCT). DESIGN: Cohort study after an RCT. SETTING: 95 of the 159 women from the original RCT participated in weight, height and waist circumference measurements, performed the UKK 2 km Walk Test and completed the SF-36 Health Survey questionnaire. Multilevel mixed regression models were performed in order to compare the original and current group in an RCT setting. PARTICIPANTS: There were 159 participants in the original RCT; 2.5 years later, 102 of the women responded to a questionnaire and 4-year after the trial, there were 95 respondents. The inclusion criteria in the original RCT were: being symptomatic, experiencing daily hot flushes, age between 40 and 63 years, not using hormone therapy now or in the past 3 months, sedentary lifestyle and having last menstruated 3-36 months earlier. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Health-related QoL as measured with the SF-36 instrument. RESULTS: Women in the intervention group had a significantly higher probability of improved physical functioning (OR 1.41; 95% CI 1.00 to 1.99) as compared with women in the control group. In addition, women in the intervention group had higher odds of good role functioning (OR 1.21; 95% CI 0.88 to 1.67), physical health (OR 1.33; 95% CI 0.96 to 1.84) and general health (OR 1.14; 95% CI 0.81 to 1.62), relative to women in the control group, although the differences did not reach statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS: Women in the intervention group showed positive long-term effects on physical and mental dimensions of QoL after 4 years. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ISRCTN54690027.

Short- and Long-term Effects of a Physical Exercise Intervention on Work Ability and Work Strain in Symptomatic Menopausal Women.

BACKGROUND: Physical exercise during leisure time is known to increase physical capacity; however, the long-term effects on work ability and work strain are inconclusive. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of a 6-month physical exercise program on work ability and work strain after 6 months and 30 months, among women with menopausal symptoms at baseline. METHODS: A questionnaire including questions on work ability and work strain was mailed in the beginning, at 6 months and after 30 months after the intervention to occupationally active women participating in a randomized controlled study on physical exercise and quality of life. The intervention included aerobic exercise training 4 times per week, 50 minutes per session. Work ability was measured with the Work Ability Index (WAI) and with questions about physical and mental work strain. RESULTS: Women aged 47-62 years (N = 89) who were occupationally active at baseline were included in the analyses. The increase in WAI from baseline to the end of the exercise intervention (6 months) was statistically significantly greater among the intervention group than among the control group (regression coefficient 2.08; 95% confidence interval 0.71-3.46). The difference between the groups persisted for 30 months. No significant short- or long-term effects on physical and mental work strain were found. CONCLUSION: A 6-month physical exercise intervention among symptomatic menopausal women had positive short-term as well as long-term effects on work ability.

Effect of physical exercise on work ability and daily strain in symptomatic menopausal women: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Menopause related symptoms modify quality of life and may also have an impact on work ability. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of physical exercise on work ability and daily strain among women with menopausal symptoms. METHODS: Occupationally active symptomatic menopausal women (n=123) were randomized into 24-week aerobic exercise intervention and control groups. Mobile phone questionnaires were used to collect daily data on perceived physical and mental strain in a randomised and controlled setting. Work ability was measured with the Work Ability Index (WAI) and with questions about work strain. PARTICIPANTS: In all 123 women aged 44-62 (mean age 53.8 ± 3.4) years who worked full- or part-time participated in the study. Women were randomized into a control (n=60) and intervention group (n=63). The subjects were mostly working in mentally demanding jobs (e.g., office worker), but also in physical (e.g., cleaner) and mixed (physical and mental) jobs (e.g., nurse). RESULTS: The increase in mental resources and decrease in physical strain from baseline to end were statistically significantly greater among the intervention group than among the control group. Between-group differences in the change in WAI were, however, statistically non-significant. CONCLUSION: A 6-month physical exercise intervention among symptomatic menopausal women seems not to be enough to increase perceived work ability but the physical exercise may increase perceived mental resources and decrease perceived daily physical strain.}