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American Journal of Obstetrics and... Oct 2023This study aimed to assess the impact of risk-reducing surgery for breast cancer and ovarian cancer prevention on quality of life. We considered risk-reducing... (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to assess the impact of risk-reducing surgery for breast cancer and ovarian cancer prevention on quality of life. We considered risk-reducing mastectomy, risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy, and risk-reducing early salpingectomy and delayed oophorectomy.
DATA SOURCES
We followed a prospective protocol (International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews: CRD42022319782) and searched MEDLINE, Embase, PubMed, and Cochrane Library from inception to February 2023.
STUDY ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
We followed a PICOS (population, intervention, comparison, outcome, and study design) framework. The population included women at increased risk of breast cancer or ovarian cancer. We focused on studies reporting quality of life outcomes (health-related quality of life, sexual function, menopause symptoms, body image, cancer-related distress or worry, anxiety, or depression) after risk-reducing surgery, including risk-reducing mastectomy for breast cancer and risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy or risk-reducing early salpingectomy and delayed oophorectomy for ovarian cancer.
METHODS
We used the Methodological Index for Non-Randomized Studies (MINORS) for study appraisal. Qualitative synthesis and fixed-effects meta-analysis were performed.
RESULTS
A total of 34 studies were included (risk-reducing mastectomy: 16 studies; risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy: 19 studies; risk-reducing early salpingectomy and delayed oophorectomy: 2 studies). Health-related quality of life was unchanged or improved in 13 of 15 studies after risk-reducing mastectomy (N=986) and 10 of 16 studies after risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy (N=1617), despite short-term deficits (N=96 after risk-reducing mastectomy and N=459 after risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy). Sexual function (using the Sexual Activity Questionnaire) was affected in 13 of 16 studies (N=1400) after risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy in terms of decreased sexual pleasure (-1.21 [-1.53 to -0.89]; N=3070) and increased sexual discomfort (1.12 [0.93-1.31]; N=1400). Hormone replacement therapy after premenopausal risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy was associated with an increase (1.16 [0.17-2.15]; N=291) in sexual pleasure and a decrease (-1.20 [-1.75 to -0.65]; N=157) in sexual discomfort. Sexual function was affected in 4 of 13 studies (N=147) after risk-reducing mastectomy, but stable in 9 of 13 studies (N=799). Body image was unaffected in 7 of 13 studies (N=605) after risk-reducing mastectomy, whereas 6 of 13 studies (N=391) reported worsening. Increased menopause symptoms were reported in 12 of 13 studies (N=1759) after risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy with a reduction (-1.96 [-2.81 to -1.10]; N=1745) in the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy - Endocrine Symptoms. Cancer-related distress was unchanged or decreased in 5 of 5 studies after risk-reducing mastectomy (N=365) and 8 of 10 studies after risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy (N=1223). Risk-reducing early salpingectomy and delayed oophorectomy (2 studies, N=413) led to better sexual function and menopause-specific quality of life.
CONCLUSION
Risk-reducing surgery may be associated with quality of life outcomes. Risk-reducing mastectomy and risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy reduce cancer-related distress, and do not affect health-related quality of life. Women and clinicians should be aware of body image problems after risk-reducing mastectomy, and of sexual dysfunction and menopause symptoms after risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy. Risk-reducing early salpingectomy and delayed oophorectomy may be a promising alternative to mitigate quality of life-related risks of risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy.
PubMed: 37059410
DOI: 10.1016/j.ajog.2023.03.045 -
Archivio Italiano Di Urologia,... Oct 2023Urinary incontinence and other urinary symptoms tend to be frequent at menopause because of hormonal modifications and aging. Urinary symptoms are associated with the... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Urinary incontinence and other urinary symptoms tend to be frequent at menopause because of hormonal modifications and aging. Urinary symptoms are associated with the genitourinary syndrome of menopause which is characterized by physical changes of the vulva, vagina and lower urinary tract. The treatment strategies for postmenopausal urinary incontinence are various and may include estrogens, anticholinergics, and pelvic floor muscle training. A comparison of these treatments is difficult due to the heterogeneity of adopted protocols. We systematically reviewed the evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) focusing on treatment of postmenopausal women with urge incontinence.
METHODS
We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis by searching PubMed and EMBASE databases for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) reporting results of treatments for postmenopausal urinary urge incontinence. Odds ratios for improvement of urinary incontinence were calculated using random effect Mantel-Haenszel statistics.
RESULTS
Out of 248 records retrieved, 35 eligible RCTs were assessed for risk of bias and included in the meta-analysis. Compared with placebo, systemic estrogens were associated with decreased odds of improving urinary incontinence in postmenopausal women (OR = 0.74, 95% CI: 0.61-0.91, 7 series, 17132 participants, Z = 2.89, P = 0.004, I2 = 72%). In most studies, no significant improvement in urinary symptoms was observed in patients treated with local estrogens, although they showed to be helpful in improving vaginal symptoms. Vitamin D, phytoestrogens and estrogen modulators were not effective in improving symptoms of incontinence and other symptoms of genitourinary menopause syndrome or yielded contradictory results. A randomized controlled trial demonstrated that oxybutynin was significantly better than placebo at improving postmenopausal urgency and urge incontinence. The combination of anticholinergics with local estrogens has not been shown to be more effective than anticholinergics alone in improving urinary incontinence symptoms in postmenopausal women. Physical therapy showed an overall positive outcome on postmenopausal urinary incontinence symptoms, although such evidence should be further validated in the frame of quality RCTs.
CONCLUSIONS
The evidence for effective treatment of postmenopausal urinary incontinence is still lacking. Welldesigned large studies having subjective and objective improvement primary endpoints in postmenopausal urinary incontinence are needed. At present, a combination of different treatments tailored to the characteristics of the individual patient can be suggested.
Topics: Female; Humans; Urinary Incontinence, Urge; Urinary Incontinence, Stress; Postmenopause; Pelvic Floor; Urinary Incontinence; Estrogens; Cholinergic Antagonists; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
PubMed: 37791545
DOI: 10.4081/aiua.2023.11718 -
Medicine Dec 2023Menopause causes a variety of symptoms such as hot flashes and night sweats. While menopausal hormonal therapy has been used for managing postmenopausal vasomotor... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Menopause causes a variety of symptoms such as hot flashes and night sweats. While menopausal hormonal therapy has been used for managing postmenopausal vasomotor symptoms (VMS) for quite a while, it has a considerably poor safety profile.
OBJECTIVE
To review and analyze existing data to evaluate the efficacy of the neurokinin-3 antagonist, fezolinetant, in treating postmenopausal VMS and to assess its safety profile.
METHODS
A thorough literature search was performed on PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar in compliance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis 2020, to find publications on the efficacy of fezolinetant for postmenopausal VMS. Changes in the frequency and severity scores of moderate/severe VMS and changes in the Hot Flash-Related Daily Interference Scale (HFRDIS), Greene Climacteric Scale (GCS), and Menopause-Specific Quality of Life (MENQoL) were the efficacy outcomes. Adverse events, drug-related treatment-emergent adverse effects (TEAEs), drug-related dropouts, hepatotoxicity, endometrial hyperplasia or tumor, and uterine bleeding were all safety outcomes. We used Review Manager 5.4 for pooling risk ratios (RRs) and mean differences (MDs) for dichotomous and continuous outcomes, respectively. A P value of < .05 was considered significant.
RESULTS
There was a significant reduction in mean daily VMS frequency at weeks 4 and 12 (MD, -2.36; 95% confidence interval [CI], -2.85 to -1.87; P < .00001, for week 12) and also a significant decrease in VMS severity scores in the treatment group. Furthermore, improvements in MENQoL, HFRDIS, and GCS scores were observed. There was no significant difference in adverse events while drug-related TEAEs (RR, 1.21; 95% CI, 0.90-1.63; P = .21) showed a slight increase with fezolinetant. Drug-related dropouts were again similar across the 2 groups. Uterine bleeding had a lower incidence while endometrial events and hepatotoxicity showed a statistically insignificant, increasing trend in the fezolinetant group.
DISCUSSION AND IMPLICATIONS
Fezolinetant can be a treatment option for postmenopausal VMS but warns of a risk increase in endometrial hyperplasia or tumors. The heterogeneity in the data being analyzed, short follow-up period, and small sample size in most of the included randomized controlled trials were the greatest limitations, which must be considered in further research and safety profile exploration.
Topics: Female; Humans; Postmenopause; Endometrial Hyperplasia; Quality of Life; Menopause; Hot Flashes; Uterine Hemorrhage; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury
PubMed: 38115258
DOI: 10.1097/MD.0000000000036592 -
BMC Women's Health Sep 2023Menopause can significantly hasten bone loss. Mobile phones provide an efficient way to manage, track and understand menopause using apps. A previous review of menopause...
BACKGROUND
Menopause can significantly hasten bone loss. Mobile phones provide an efficient way to manage, track and understand menopause using apps. A previous review of menopause apps found numerous apps designed to help women manage menopause. However, it did not use validated measures to assess the quality of the apps and did not focus on content related to osteoporosis.
METHODS
This app review aligns with the updated Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis guidelines. The keywords used to search for the apps were "menopause" and "menopausal". Apps were included if they were in English, for individuals or groups and had a lifestyle focus. Apps that looked at other aspects of women's health, required external devices, cost to download, or were symptom-tracking were excluded. The quality and functionality were assessed using the Mobile App Rating Scale and IMS Institute for Healthcare Informatics Functionality score. Data were synthesised descriptively.
RESULTS
Twenty-eight apps were selected and reviewed from the 236 apps screened from the Apple store and Google play store. Only 57% of the apps reviewed (n = 16) had content on osteoporosis which was educational in purpose. The readability of the apps was complex and best understood by university graduates. The average functionality score of the apps reviewed was 4.57 out of 11 and that of quality is 3.1 out of 5, both of which need improvement.
CONCLUSIONS
Existing menopause apps need more input from experts to improve the quality and functionality, using simple language. More emphasis on specific health problems during menopause, including osteoporosis, is required.
TRIAL REGISTRATION
Not relevant.
Topics: Humans; Female; Mobile Applications; Cell Phone; Women's Health; Osteoporosis; Menopause
PubMed: 37773133
DOI: 10.1186/s12905-023-02612-9 -
Maturitas Dec 2023Aging is associated with a loss of skeletal muscle mass and function that negatively impacts the independence and quality of life of older individuals. Females... (Review)
Review
Aging is associated with a loss of skeletal muscle mass and function that negatively impacts the independence and quality of life of older individuals. Females demonstrate a distinct pattern of muscle aging compared to males, potentially due to menopause, when the production of endogenous sex hormones declines. This systematic review aims to investigate the current knowledge about the role of estrogen in female skeletal muscle aging. A systematic search of MEDLINE Complete, Global Health, Embase, PubMed, SPORTDiscus, and CINHAL was conducted. Studies were considered eligible if they compared a state of estrogen deficiency (e.g. postmenopausal females) or supplementation (e.g. estrogen therapy) to normal estrogen conditions (e.g. premenopausal females or no supplementation). Outcome variables of interest included measures of skeletal muscle mass, function, damage/repair, and energy metabolism. Quality assessment was completed with the relevant Johanna Briggs critical appraisal tool, and data were synthesized in a narrative manner. Thirty-two studies were included in the review. Compared to premenopausal women, postmenopausal women had reduced muscle mass and strength, but the effect of menopause on markers of muscle damage and expression of the genes involved in metabolic signaling pathways remains unclear. Some studies suggest a beneficial effect of estrogen therapy on muscle size and strength, but evidence is largely conflicting and inconclusive, potentially due to large variations in the reporting and status of exposure and outcomes. The findings from this review point toward a potential negative effect of estrogen deficiency on aging skeletal muscle, but further mechanistic evidence is needed to clarify its role.
Topics: Male; Female; Humans; Quality of Life; Estrogens; Aging; Menopause; Muscle, Skeletal
PubMed: 37716136
DOI: 10.1016/j.maturitas.2023.107844 -
Journal of Clinical Medicine Oct 2023Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is an endocrine disorder with a broad spectrum of clinical symptoms. Some of the serious complications of PCOS are mental disorders... (Review)
Review
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is an endocrine disorder with a broad spectrum of clinical symptoms. Some of the serious complications of PCOS are mental disorders including depression. Therefore, the aim of the meta-analysis was to determine the prevalence, mean level, standardized mean difference and probability of depression based on the research conducted with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). A systematic literature search was performed using the following databases: PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, ClinicalTrials.gov and Google for research published until January 2023. The meta-analysis was conducted on a group of 4002 patients obtained from 19 studies, which met the inclusion criteria (adult pre-menopausal women diagnosed with PCOS, papers on the prevalence of depression or the HADS scoring). According to the research performed, the mean prevalence of depression was 31% (I2 = 93%; < 0.001), whereas the mean HADS depression score in patients with PCOS was 6.31 (I2 = 93%; < 0.001). The standardized difference of mean depression scores was SMD = 0.421 (95% confidence interval = 0.17-0.68, I2 = 67%). The overall probability of depression in PCOS patients was more than 2.5-fold higher than in healthy women ((RR: 2.58), confidence interval [1.38-4.85]; I2 = 90%, < 0.001). The research results imply an increased risk of depressive symptoms in women with PCOS.
PubMed: 37892583
DOI: 10.3390/jcm12206446 -
Role of Alternate Therapies to Improve the Quality of Life in Menopausal Women: A Systematic Review.Journal of Mid-life Health 2023Middle aged women in majority undergoing menopausal symptoms are unaware of the physiological changes happening in their body, necessary lifestyle changes and alternate... (Review)
Review
Middle aged women in majority undergoing menopausal symptoms are unaware of the physiological changes happening in their body, necessary lifestyle changes and alternate therapies to overcome the symptoms. All major electronic sources of relevant information were systematically searched and collected data were pooled under specific subheadings. From the reviewed papers, the awareness on symptoms and related complications of menopause in the middle aged women were consolidated. Studies helped to identify alternative therapies replacing or in parallel with the Hormone Replacement Therapy to overcome the menopausal symptoms. Reduced oestrogen and progesterone level causes physiological, psychological, and genitourinary symptoms. Prolonged consequences cause libido, osteoporosis, and cardio vascular diseases. Hypo-estrogenic status is well managed with alternative therapies including dietary intervention, acupuncture, aromatherapy, exercise, and yoga. Dietary interventions involving foods like Fennel, Soy, Black Cohash, St. John Wort, Red Clover and Date Pollen were found to be managing vasomotor symptoms and sexual dysfunction. Non-Hormonal and Non-Pharmacological impact behind acupuncture treatment was well accepted. Various studies proved inhaling and massaging with Lavender, Neroli oil, Fennel, Rose, and Geranium essential oils balance cortisol hormone and reduce stress and anxiety. Impact of yoga therapy on neurohormonal pathways reduce both psychological and physiological symptoms. Reviews summarizes various symptoms and complications during menopausal transition and alternate ways of better management with dietary intervention, yoga, exercise, aromatherapy, and acupuncture to improve the quality of menopausal women's life.
PubMed: 38312763
DOI: 10.4103/jmh.jmh_222_22 -
Obesity Reviews : An Official Journal... Oct 2023The fear of weight gain is one of the main reasons for women not to initiate or to early discontinue hormonal contraception or menopausal hormone therapy. Resting energy... (Review)
Review
The fear of weight gain is one of the main reasons for women not to initiate or to early discontinue hormonal contraception or menopausal hormone therapy. Resting energy expenditure is by far the largest component and the most important determinant of total energy expenditure. Given that low resting energy expenditure is a confirmed predictive factor for weight gain and consecutively for the development of obesity, research into the influence of sex steroids on resting energy expenditure is a particularly exciting area. The objective of this systematic review was to evaluate the effects of medication with natural and synthetic estrogens on resting energy expenditure in healthy normal weight and overweight women. Through complex systematic literature searches, a total of 10 studies were identified that investigated the effects of medication with estrogens on resting energy expenditure. Our results demonstrate that estrogen administration increases resting energy expenditure by up to +208 kcal per day in the context of contraception and by up to +222 kcal per day in the context of menopausal hormone therapy, suggesting a preventive effect of circulating estrogen levels and estrogen administration on weight gain and obesity development.
Topics: Humans; Female; Estrogens; Obesity; Energy Metabolism; Weight Gain; Overweight
PubMed: 37544655
DOI: 10.1111/obr.13605 -
Journal of Affective Disorders May 2024Menopause, a crucial transitioning stage for women, can significantly impact mood and wellbeing. We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of psychosocial interventions on... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
Menopause, a crucial transitioning stage for women, can significantly impact mood and wellbeing. We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of psychosocial interventions on non-physiological symptoms of menopause (depression, anxiety, cognition, and quality of life) through systematic review and meta-analysis.
METHODS
Five databases were searched from inception to August 2023 for randomized controlled trials. Pre- and post-test means and standard deviations for groups were extracted and used to calculate effect sizes. The effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Mindfulness-Based Interventions (MBI) on depression and anxiety were examined by subgroup analysis.
RESULTS
Thirty studies comprising 3501 women were included. From meta-analysis, mood symptoms significantly benefited from CBT (anxiety: d = -0.22, 95 % CI = -0.35, -0.10; depression: d = -0.33, 95 % CI = -0.45, -0.21) and MBI (anxiety: d = -0.56, 95 % CI = -0.74, -0.39; depression: d = -0.27, 95 % CI = -0.45, -0.09). Psychosocial interventions were also found to significantly improve cognition (d = -0.23, 95 % CI = -0.40, -0.06) and quality of life (d = -0.78, 95 % CI = -0.93, -0.63). Mean total therapy hours ('dose') was lower for CBT (11.3) than MBI (18.6), indicating reduced costs and burden for women.
LIMITATIONS
Data regarding menopausal status were not collected, limiting our ability to identify the optimal timing of interventions. Potential longer-term, effects of interventions were not investigated.
CONCLUSION
Our review highlighted the value of psychosocial interventions in improving non-physiological symptoms (particularly depression and anxiety) during menopause, noting the heterogeneity of findings and importance of implementing effective interventions.
Topics: Humans; Female; Quality of Life; Psychosocial Intervention; Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; Anxiety; Menopause; Depression
PubMed: 38364979
DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2024.02.048 -
BMC Medicine Nov 2023Sex difference exists in the prevalence of dementia and cognitive decline. The impacts of sex-specific reproductive risk factors across the lifespan on the risk of... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
Sex difference exists in the prevalence of dementia and cognitive decline. The impacts of sex-specific reproductive risk factors across the lifespan on the risk of dementia or cognitive decline are still unclear. Herein, we conducted this systemic review and meta-analysis to finely depict the longitudinal associations between sex-specific reproductive factors and dementia or cognitive decline.
METHODS
PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library were searched up to January 2023. Studies focused on the associations of female- and male-specific reproductive factors with dementia or cognitive decline were included. Multivariable-adjusted effects were pooled via the random effect models. Evidence credibility was scored by the GRADE system. The study protocol was pre-registered in PROSPERO and the registration number is CRD42021278732.
RESULTS
A total of 94 studies were identified for evidence synthesis, comprising 9,839,964 females and 3,436,520 males. Among the identified studies, 63 of them were included in the meta-analysis. According to the results, seven female-specific reproductive factors including late menarche (risk increase by 15%), nulliparous (11%), grand parity (32%), bilateral oophorectomy (8%), short reproductive period (14%), early menopause (22%), increased estradiol level (46%), and two male-specific reproductive factors, androgen deprivation therapy (18%), and serum sex hormone-binding globulin (22%) were associated with an elevated risk of dementia or cognitive decline.
CONCLUSIONS
These findings potentially reflect sex hormone-driven discrepancy in the occurrence of dementia and could help build sex-based precise strategies for preventing dementia.
Topics: Pregnancy; Female; Male; Humans; Dementia; Longevity; Androgen Antagonists; Prostatic Neoplasms; Cognitive Dysfunction; Risk Factors; Parity
PubMed: 37996855
DOI: 10.1186/s12916-023-03159-0