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International Journal of Sports Medicine Apr 2024Mixed-gender studies predominate the current literature exploring the interaction between physical activity and dementia risk. Considering that menopause appears to...
Mixed-gender studies predominate the current literature exploring the interaction between physical activity and dementia risk. Considering that menopause appears to contribute to females' increased risk of cognitive decline when compared to males, further clarity is required on the impact of physical activity in reducing late-life dementia risk specifically in perimenopausal females. A literature search of MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science, SCOPUS and CINAHL databases yielded fourteen studies for review. A significant inverse relationship between perimenopausal leisure time physical activity, or physical fitness, and future all-cause dementia risk was found in most studies exploring this interaction. Higher levels of perimenopausal household physical activity and combined non-leisure time physical activity also displayed a favourable impact in lowering dementia risk. A dose-response effect was demonstrated, with approximately 10 MET-hour/week of leisure time physical activity required for significant dementia risk reduction. Three of four papers exploring causality provided analyses that are proposed to counter the 'reverse causation' argument, suggesting that physical activity may indeed have a protective role in reducing dementia risk post-menopause. The current systematic review provides promising results regarding the impact of pre- and perimenopausal physical activity on reducing late-life dementia risk, suggesting that promoting perimenopausal physical activity may serve as a crucial tool in mitigating the risk of post-menopausal cognitive decline.
PubMed: 38626907
DOI: 10.1055/a-2307-8122 -
Frontiers in Medicine 2022The menopausal transition represents the passage from reproductive to non-reproductive life and is characterized by a number of menstrual disturbances. We systematically...
INTRODUCTION
The menopausal transition represents the passage from reproductive to non-reproductive life and is characterized by a number of menstrual disturbances. We systematically reviewed the evidence on the prevalence of psychosomatic and genitourinary syndrome among menopausal women and compared the risk of symptoms between premenopausal, perimenopausal, and post-menopausal women.
METHODS
We performed a systematic search in MEDLINE, CINAHL, and ScienceDirect through March 2021. Case series/reports, conference papers and proceedings, articles available only in abstract form, editorial reviews, letters of communication, commentaries, systematic reviews, and qualitative studies were excluded. Two reviewers independently extracted and assessed the quality of data using the Joanna Briggs Institute Meta-Analysis. The outcomes were assessed with random-effects model using the Review Manager software.
RESULTS
In total, 29 studies had a low risk of bias and were included in the review. Our findings showed that the pooled prevalence of somatic symptoms in post-menopausal women (52.6%) was higher than in the premenopausal and perimenopausal stages (34.6 and 39.5%, respectively). There was a low prevalence of psychological symptoms in premenopausal women (28.4%). The genitourinary syndrome was highest among post-menopausal women (55.1%), followed by perimenopausal (31.9%) and premenopausal (19.2%) women.
CONCLUSION
Post-menopausal women have a higher risk of experiencing menopausal symptoms particularly genitourinary syndrome than premenopausal and perimenopausal women. It is pertinent for healthcare professionals to evaluate the symptoms in order to provide them with a better quality of life.
SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION
https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42021235958.
PubMed: 35308492
DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2022.848202 -
Complementary Therapies in Medicine Mar 2023An increasing number of women suffer from perimenopausal syndrome (PMS) and the global burden of this disease has been steadily rising. Acupoint application therapy and... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
Effects of acupoint application therapy combined with chinese herbal medicine on perimenopausal syndrome: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trails.
BACKGROUND
An increasing number of women suffer from perimenopausal syndrome (PMS) and the global burden of this disease has been steadily rising. Acupoint application therapy and Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) are widely used as effective methods for treating PMS, but the efficacy was inconsistent and the evidence should be summarized by quantitively analysis.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of the acupoint application combined with the CHM for the treatment of PMS.
METHODS
We searched eight databases from their inception to August 2022 to identify relevant studies. Only randomized controlled trials (RCTs) focusing on acupoint application combined with CHM for the treatment of PMS were included in this study. To assess the clinical efficacy and safety, meta-analysis was used to quantitively synthesize the effect estimates. Subgroup analysis, publication bias assessment and sensitivity analysis were also performed. We further assessed whether the included studies had reported on the purity and potency of the CHM used in their trials.
RESULTS
A total of 8 RCTs with 560 participants were included in the systematic review and meta-analysis, of which none of them included a description of an independent testing of purity or potency of the CHM product used. There were significant differences between the acupoint application combined with CHM and CHM alone in terms of Kupperman Menopausal Index (KMI) score (MD = -2.91, 95%CI: -3.91 to -1.91), total effective rate (RR = 1.22, 95% CI: 1.11-1.34), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Interview (PSQI) score (MD = -2.86, 95% CI: -3.61 to -2.10) and reduction in the serum level of luteinizing hormone (LH) (MD = -2.52, 95% CI: -4.70 to -0.34), whereas there were no differences between the two groups regarding lowering serum level of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) (MD = -1.66, 95% CI: -3.98-0.67) and elevating serum level of oestradiol (E) (MD = 2.41, 95% CI: -0.70-5.52). For the comparation between the acupoint application combined with CHM and western medicine (WM), the KMI score (MD = -6.80, 95%CI: -7.95 to -5.65) was substantially different, while the PSQI score (MD = -0.60, 95% CI: -1.88-0.68) was not substantially different. The total effective rate in the combined group (91.7%) was higher than the western medicine group (83.49%).
CONCLUSION
Acupoint application combined with CHM may enhance the efficacy and safety of patients with PMS. However, due to the lack of description of an independent testing of purity or potency of the CHM product used in the trials, as well as blinding of participants and investigators, these results should be interpreted with caution.
Topics: Female; Humans; Drugs, Chinese Herbal; Perimenopause; Acupuncture Points; Menopause; Syndrome; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
PubMed: 36623609
DOI: 10.1016/j.ctim.2023.102916 -
JBMR Plus Jun 2023Most women do not qualify for pharmacologic osteoporosis treatment until more than a decade after menopause, by which time they will have lost up to 30% of their bone...
Most women do not qualify for pharmacologic osteoporosis treatment until more than a decade after menopause, by which time they will have lost up to 30% of their bone mass and may have already sustained fractures. Short or intermittent courses of bisphosphonate therapy, initiated around the time of menopause, might prevent excessive bone loss and lower long-term fracture risk. We undertook a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to determine the effects of nitrogen-containing bisphosphonates on fracture incidence, bone mineral density (BMD), and bone turnover markers in early menopausal women (ie, perimenopausal or <5 years postmenopausal) over ≥12 months. Medline, Embase, CENTRAL, and CINAHL were searched in July 2022. Risk of bias was evaluated using the Cochrane Risk of Bias 2 tool. Random effect meta-analysis was undertaken using RevMan v5.3. In total, 12 trials were included ( = 1722 women); five evaluated alendronate, three risedronate, three ibandronate, and one zoledronate. Four were at low risk of bias; eight raised some concerns. Fractures were infrequent in the three studies that reported them. Compared with placebo, bisphosphonates improved BMD over 12 months (mean percentage difference, 95% confidence interval [CI]) at the spine (4.32%, 95% CI, 3.10%-5.54%, < 0.0001, = 8 studies), the femoral neck (2.56%, 95% CI, 1.85%-3.27%, = 0.001, = 6 studies), and the total hip (1.22%, 95% CI 0.16%-2.28%, = 0.002, = 4 studies). Over treatment durations of 24 to 72 months, bisphosphonates improved BMD at the spine (5.81%, 95% CI 4.71%-6.91%, < 0.0001, = 8 studies), femoral neck (3.89%, 95% CI 2.73%-5.05%, = 0.0001, = 5 studies) and total hip (4.09%, 95% CI 2.81%-5.37%, < 0.0001, = 4 studies). Bisphosphonates reduced urinary N-telopeptide (-52.2%, 95% CI -60.3% to -44.2%, < 0.00001, = 3 studies) and bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (-34.2%, 95% CI -42.6% to -25.8%, < 0.00001, = 4 studies) more than placebo at 12 months. This systematic review and meta-analysis shows that bisphosphonates improve BMD and lower bone turnover markers in early menopause, warranting further investigation of these agents for osteoporosis prevention. © 2023 The Authors. published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
PubMed: 37283657
DOI: 10.1002/jbm4.10748 -
Journal of Affective Disorders Jul 2024For many women, menopause transition can be a period of emotional and physical changes, with different menopausal stages associated with varied risk for depressive... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
INTRODUCTION
For many women, menopause transition can be a period of emotional and physical changes, with different menopausal stages associated with varied risk for depressive symptoms and diagnosis. This review aimed to conduct a systematic review and meta-analyses to provide an estimate for the risk of developing a) clinical depression and b) depressive symptoms at different menopausal stages.
METHODS
We searched Medline, PsycInfo, Embase and Web of Science from inception to July 2023. Seventeen prospective cohort studies with a total of 16061 women were included in the review, and risk of bias was assessed using the Quality in Prognosis Studies tool (QUIPS). Seven papers with a total of 9141 participants were included in meta-analyses, using random effects models and pooled odds ratios (OR) calculated for depressive symptoms and diagnoses.
RESULTS
Perimenopausal women were found to be at a significantly higher risk for depressive symptoms and diagnoses, compared to premenopausal women (OR = 1.40; 95 % CI: 1.21; 1.61, p < .001). We did not find a significantly increased risk for depressive symptoms or diagnoses in post-menopausal, compared to pre-menopausal women.
LIMITATIONS
Studies used different criteria to classify the menopausal stages and different measures for depression, which may have contributed to the heterogeneity seen in some models. We were unable to include a model that compared peri to post-menopause, due to a lack of longitudinal studies comparing the two stages.
CONCLUSIONS
The risk of depression in perimenopause, shown in an ethnically diverse sample; highlights the clinical need for screening and support in this potentially vulnerable group.
Topics: Humans; Female; Menopause; Depression; Risk Factors; Middle Aged; Perimenopause; Premenopause
PubMed: 38642901
DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2024.04.041 -
British Journal of Sports Medicine Jan 2006Seventy five articles on the effect of oral contraceptives and other hormone replacement on bone density in premenopausal and perimenopausal women were reviewed. The... (Review)
Review
Seventy five articles on the effect of oral contraceptives and other hormone replacement on bone density in premenopausal and perimenopausal women were reviewed. The evidence was appraised using the Oxford Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine levels of evidence. There is good evidence for a positive effect of oral contraceptives on bone density in perimenopausal women, and fair evidence for a positive effect in "hypothalamic" oligo/amenorrhoeic premenopausal women. There is limited evidence for a positive effect in healthy and anorexic premenopausal women. In hypothalamic oligo/amenorrhoeic women, baseline bone density has been shown to be significantly lower than that in healthy controls, therefore the decision to treat is clinically more important. The ideal formulation(s) and duration of treatment remain to be determined by further longitudinal and prospective randomised controlled trials in larger subject populations.
Topics: Absorptiometry, Photon; Adolescent; Adult; Amenorrhea; Anorexia Nervosa; Bone Density; Contraceptives, Oral; Exercise; Female; Hormone Replacement Therapy; Humans; Middle Aged; Perimenopause; Premenopause; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Sports
PubMed: 16371485
DOI: 10.1136/bjsm.2005.020065 -
Evidence-based Complementary and... 2021Many women with perimenopausal insomnia (PMI) have sought alternative therapies such as acupuncture because of concerns about risks associated with hormone replacement... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Many women with perimenopausal insomnia (PMI) have sought alternative therapies such as acupuncture because of concerns about risks associated with hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and/or psychotropic drugs. This systematic review aimed to clarify if acupuncture alone or combined with standard Western pharmacotherapy (HRT and/or psychotropic drugs) is more effective in ameliorating PMI in comparison to pharmacotherapy alone.
METHODS
Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of PMI treatment via acupuncture alone or combined with Western pharmacotherapy versus Western pharmacotherapy were searched for from eleven databases from inception to March 2020. Cochrane criteria were followed.
RESULTS
Fifteen studies involving 1410 women were analyzed. Meta-analysis indicated that acupuncture significantly reduced the global scores of Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) [MD = -2.38, 95% CI (-3.38, -1.37), < 0.01] and Kupperman Index [MD = -5.95, 95% CI (-10.68, -1.21), = 0.01], compared with hypnotics. Acupuncture combined with hypnotics was more effective than hypnotics alone in decreasing PSQI scores [MD = -3.13, 95% CI (-5.43, -0.83), < 0.01]. Too few RCTs were available to investigate the clinical efficacy differences between acupuncture and HRT/psychotropic drugs other than hypnotics.
CONCLUSIONS
Despite limited evidence, in comparison to hypnotics, acupuncture was associated with significant improvements in PMI, and reductions of other menopausal symptoms. This finding suggests that acupuncture may be a useful addition to treatment for PMI.
PubMed: 33986818
DOI: 10.1155/2021/5566742 -
International Journal of Women's Health 2015Evidence suggests that migraine activity is influenced by hormonal factors, and particularly by estrogen levels, but relatively few studies have investigated the... (Review)
Review
Evidence suggests that migraine activity is influenced by hormonal factors, and particularly by estrogen levels, but relatively few studies have investigated the prevalence and characteristics of migraine according to the menopausal status. Overall, population-based studies have shown an improvement of migraine after menopause, with a possible increase in perimenopause. On the contrary, the studies performed on patients referring to headache centers have shown no improvement or even worsening of migraine. Menopause etiology may play a role in migraine evolution during the menopausal period, with migraine improvement more likely occurring after spontaneous rather than after surgical menopause. Postmenopausal hormone replacement therapy has been found to be associated with migraine worsening in observational population-based studies. The effects of several therapeutic regimens on migraine has also been investigated, leading to nonconclusive results. To date, no specific preventive measures are recommended for menopausal women with migraine. There is a need for further research in order to clarify the relationship between migraine and hormonal changes in women, and to quantify the real burden of migraine after the menopause. Hormonal manipulation for the treatment of refractory postmenopausal migraine is still a matter of debate.
PubMed: 26316824
DOI: 10.2147/IJWH.S70073 -
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine... Jun 2017To assess the effectiveness and safety of Kuntai capsule and hormone replacement therapy in treatment of perimenopausal syndrome.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the effectiveness and safety of Kuntai capsule and hormone replacement therapy in treatment of perimenopausal syndrome.
METHODS
Articles were retrieved from the databases Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, PubMed, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, China Science and Technology Journal Database, and Wanfang Database. Only randomized controlled trials were included; 15 trials involving 1243 patients were identified from January 2005 to April 2015. A systemic review and Meta-analysis of publications was performed. The review was limited to randomized controlled trials that compared Kuntai capsule and hormone replacement therapy to treat perimenopausal syndrome for at least 3 months. The primary outcome assessed was the treatment efficacy at 3 months, including effective rate of Kupperman menopausal scores, Kupperman menopausal scores, and blood estradiol (E2) or blood follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) levels. Other outcomes assessed were safety or adverse events, such as gastrointestinal complaints, breast distending pain, or vaginal bleeding.
RESULTS
Kupperman menopausal scores showed no significant difference in effective rate [odds ratio (OR): 1.05, 95% confidence intervals (CI): 0.71 to 1.55] and changes in FSH level [mean difference (MD): 2.14, 95% CI: -2.36 to 6.65]. There was a significant statistical difference in Kupperman menopausal scores (MD: -1.14, 95% CI: -2.03 to -0.25) and changes in E2 level (MD: -16.41, 95% CI: -18.83 to -13.69). There were fewer adverse events in the Kuntai capsule group than in the hormone replacement therapy group (OR: = 0.35, 95% CI: 0.25 to 0.48, P < 0.01).
CONCLUSION
Compared with hormone replacement therapy, Kuntai capsule can improve perimenopausal symptoms and blood E2 levels, and reduce the incidence of adverse events.
PubMed: 31682369
DOI: No ID Found -
PloS One 2018Protein may have both beneficial and detrimental effects on bone health depending on a variety of factors, including protein source. (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
Protein may have both beneficial and detrimental effects on bone health depending on a variety of factors, including protein source.
OBJECTIVE
The aim was to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis evaluating the effects of animal versus plant protein intake on bone mineral density (BMD), bone mineral content (BMC) and select bone biomarkers in healthy adults.
METHODS
Searches across five databases were conducted through 10/31/16 for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and prospective cohort studies in healthy adults that examined the effects of animal versus plant protein intake on 1) total body (TB), total hip (TH), lumbar spine (LS) or femoral neck (FN) BMD or TB BMC for at least one year, or 2) select bone formation and resorption biomarkers for at least six months. Strength of evidence (SOE) was assessed and random effect meta-analyses were performed.
RESULTS
Seven RCTs examining animal vs. isoflavone-rich soy (Soy+) protein intake in 633 healthy peri-menopausal (n = 1) and post-menopausal (n = 6) women were included. Overall risk of bias was medium. Limited SOE suggests no significant difference between Soy+ vs. animal protein on LS, TH, FN and TB BMD, TB BMC, and bone turnover markers BSAP and NTX. Meta-analysis results showed on average, the differences between Soy+ and animal protein groups were close to zero and not significant for BMD outcomes (LS: n = 4, pooled net % change: 0.24%, 95% CI: -0.80%, 1.28%; TB: n = 3, -0.24%, 95% CI: -0.81%, 0.33%; FN: n = 3, 0.13%, 95% CI: -0.94%, 1.21%). All meta-analyses had no statistical heterogeneity.
CONCLUSIONS
These results do not support soy protein consumption as more advantageous than animal protein, or vice versa. Future studies are needed examining the effects of different protein sources in different populations on BMD, BMC, and fracture.
Topics: Adult; Animals; Humans; Osteoporosis; Plant Proteins
PubMed: 29474360
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0192459