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PloS One 2016Vasomotor symptoms (hot flushes and night sweats) and other symptoms, including depression, anxiety and panic attacks, are commonly experienced by menopausal women and... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
IMPORTANCE
Vasomotor symptoms (hot flushes and night sweats) and other symptoms, including depression, anxiety and panic attacks, are commonly experienced by menopausal women and have been associated with an unfavourable cardiovascular risk profile.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate whether presence of menopausal symptoms is associated with the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD).
METHODS
Five electronic databases (Medline, EMBASE and Web of Science) were search until February 17th, 2015 to identify relevant studies. Observational cohort studies or randomised intervention studies were eligible for inclusion if they followed participants prospectively (at least 1 year of follow-up), and reported relevant estimates on the association of any vasomotor symptoms, or other menopausal symptoms, with risk of CVD, coronary heart disease (CHD), or stroke in perimenopausal, menopausal, or postmenopausal women. Data were extracted by two independent reviewers using a pre-designed data collection form. Separate pooled relative risks (RRs) for age and non-established cardiovascular risk factors (e.g., education, ethnicity) adjusted data and for established cardiovascular risk factors and potential mediators-adjusted data (e.g., smoking, body mass index, and hypertension) were calculated.
RESULTS
Out of 9,987 initially identified references, ten studies were selected, including 213,976 women with a total of 10,037 cardiovascular disease outcomes. The age and non-established cardiovascular risk factors adjusted RRs) [95% confidence intervals] for development of CHD, Stroke and CVD comparing women with and without any menopausal symptoms were 1.34 [1.13-1.58], 1.30 [0.99-1.70], 1.48 [1.21-1.80] respectively, and the corresponding RRs adjusted for cardiovascular risk factors and potential mediators were 1.18 [1.03-1.35], 1.08 [0.89-1.32], 1.29 [0.98-1.71]. However, these analyses were limited by potential unmeasured confounding and the small number of studies on this topic.
CONCLUSION
Presence of vasomotor symptoms and other menopausal symptoms are generally associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, which is mainly explained by cardiovascular risk factors.
Topics: Aged; Cardiovascular Diseases; Female; Hot Flashes; Humans; Hypertension; Menopause; Middle Aged; Risk Factors; Stroke; Sweating; Vasomotor System
PubMed: 27315068
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0157417 -
JCO Global Oncology Mar 2023Breast cancer (BC) is the most common cancer among Egyptian females. No current national cancer database is available in Egypt to provide reliable data on the specific... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
PURPOSE
Breast cancer (BC) is the most common cancer among Egyptian females. No current national cancer database is available in Egypt to provide reliable data on the specific clinicopathologic features of BC in this population. Herein, we investigated the clinical profile of BC among Egyptian women.
METHODS
A systematic review of studies on BC published from inception until December 2021 was performed. We explored pooled estimated proportions of different stages of BC at presentation in Egypt and other clinicopathologic features including age, menopausal status, tumor (T) and lymph node (N) stages, and biological subtypes. Data analysis was performed using meta package (R).
RESULTS
Twenty-six studies were eligible for our systematic review and meta-analysis, including 31,172 BC cases. In 12 studies, including 15,067 patients with BC, the estimated mean age was 50.46 years (95% CI, 48.7 to 52.1; I, 99%), with a pooled proportion of premenopausal/perimenopausal women of 57% (95% CI, 50 to 63; I, 98%). Among 9,738 patients with BC, pooled proportions of stage I, II, III, and IV were 6% (95% CI, 4 to 8; I, 90%), 37% (95% CI, 31 to 43; I, 93%), 45% (95% CI, 42 to 49; I, 78%), and 11% (95% CI, 9 to 15; I, 87%), respectively. The pooled proportions of patients with T3 and T4 tumors were 21% (95% CI, 14 to 31; I, 99%) and 8% (95% CI, 5 to 12; I, 96%), respectively, while those with positive lymph nodes were 70% (95% CI, 59 to 79; I, 99%).
CONCLUSION
Dominance of advanced stage and young age at diagnosis represented the two main features of BC among Egyptian women. Our data may serve to guide the policymakers in Egypt as well as other countries with lower resources to prioritize the diagnostic and therapeutic needs in this context.
Topics: Humans; Female; Middle Aged; Breast Neoplasms; Egypt
PubMed: 36888929
DOI: 10.1200/GO.22.00387 -
The Cochrane Database of Systematic... Dec 2013Vasomotor symptoms, such as hot flushes and night sweats, are very common during the menopausal transition. Hormone therapy has traditionally been used as a highly... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
Vasomotor symptoms, such as hot flushes and night sweats, are very common during the menopausal transition. Hormone therapy has traditionally been used as a highly effective treatment, but concerns about increased risk of some chronic diseases have markedly increased the interest of women in alternative treatments. Some of the most popular of these treatments are foods or supplements enriched with phytoestrogens-plant-derived chemicals that have estrogenic action.
OBJECTIVES
To assess the efficacy, safety and acceptability of food products, extracts and dietary supplements containing high levels of phytoestrogens when compared with no treatment, placebo or hormone therapy for the amelioration of vasomotor menopausal symptoms (such as hot flushes and night sweats) in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women.
SEARCH METHODS
Searches targeted the following electronic databases: the Cochrane Menstrual Disorders and Subfertility Group Specialised Register of randomised trials (29 July 2013), the Cochrane Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL; 29 July 2013), MEDLINE (inception to 29 July 2013), EMBASE (inception to 29 July 2013), AMED (1985 to 29 July 2013), PsycINFO (inception to 29 July 2013) and CINAHL (inception to 29 July 2013). Attempts were made to access grey literature by sending letters to pharmaceutical companies and performing searches of ongoing trial registers. Reference lists of included trials were also searched.
SELECTION CRITERIA
Studies were included if they were randomised, included perimenopausal or postmenopausal participants with vasomotor symptoms (hot flushes or night sweats), lasted at least 12 weeks and provided interventions such as foods or supplements with high levels of phytoestrogens (not combined with other herbal treatments). Trials that included women who had breast cancer or a history of breast cancer were excluded.
DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS
Selection of trials, extraction of data and assessment of quality were undertaken by at least two review authors. Most trials were too dissimilar for their results to be combined in a meta-analysis, so these findings are provided in narrative 'Summary of results' tables. Studies were grouped into broad categories: dietary soy, soy extracts, red clover extracts, genistein extracts and other types of phytoestrogens. Five trials used Promensil, a red clover extract; results of these trials were combined in a meta-analysis, and summary effect measures were calculated.
MAIN RESULTS
A total of 43 randomised controlled trials (4,364 participants) were included in this review. Very few trials provided data suitable for inclusion in a meta-analysis. Among the five trials that yielded data assessing the daily frequency of hot flushes suitable for pooling, no significant difference overall was noted in the incidence of hot flushes between participants taking Promensil (a red clover extract) and those given placebo (mean difference (MD) -0.93, 95% confidence interval (CI) -1.95 to 0.10, I(2) = 31%). No evidence indicated a difference in percentage reduction in hot flushes in two trials between Promensil and placebo (MD 20.15, 95% CI -12.08 to 52.38, I(2) = 82%). Four trials that were not combined in meta-analyses suggested that extracts with high (> 30 mg/d) levels of genistein consistently reduced the frequency of hot flushes. Individual results from the remaining trials were compared in broad subgroups such as dietary soy, soy extracts and other types of phytoestrogens that could not be combined. Some of these trials found that phytoestrogen treatments alleviated the frequency and severity of hot flushes and night sweats when compared with placebo, but many trials were small and were determined to be at high risk of bias. A strong placebo effect was noted in most trials, with a reduction in frequency ranging from 1% to 59% with placebo. No indication suggested that discrepant results were due to the amount of isoflavone in the active treatment arm, the severity of vasomotor symptoms or trial quality factors. Also, no evidence indicated that these treatments caused oestrogenic stimulation of the endometrium or the vagina or other adverse effects when used for up to two years.
AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS
No conclusive evidence shows that phytoestrogen supplements effectively reduce the frequency or severity of hot flushes and night sweats in perimenopausal or postmenopausal women, although benefits derived from concentrates of genistein should be further investigated.
Topics: Female; Hot Flashes; Humans; Isoflavones; Phytoestrogens; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Glycine max; Sweating; Trifolium
PubMed: 24323914
DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD001395.pub4 -
Frontiers in Psychiatry 2023To systematically evaluate the risk factors for perimenopausal depression in Chinese women and to provide a basis for screening perimenopausal women at high-risk for...
OBJECTIVE
To systematically evaluate the risk factors for perimenopausal depression in Chinese women and to provide a basis for screening perimenopausal women at high-risk for depression.
METHODS
A computer search of seven databases, including SinoMed, PubMed, Web of Science, and so on, and two clinical trial registries on the risk factors for depression in Chinese women during perimenopause was conducted for meta-analysis. The search time limit was from the establishment of the database to December 2022. The included case-control and cross-sectional studies were evaluated using the Newcastle-Ottawa scale (NOS) and criteria developed by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ).
RESULTS
A total of 15 papers with 12,168 patients and 18 risk factors were included. Meta-analysis results showed that the risk factors for depression in perimenopausal women were relationship quality [OR = 1.23, 95% confidence intervals (1.03, 1.46)], marital status [OR = 2.49, 95% CI (1.77, 3.50)], family income [OR = 1.48 95% CI (1.10, 2.00)], comorbid chronic diseases [OR = 2.39, 95% CI (1.93, 2.95)], exercise status [OR = 1.63, 95% CI (1.26, 2.11)], perimenopausal syndrome [OR = 2.36, 95% CI (2.11, 2.63)], age [OR = 1.04, 95% CI (1.01, 1.07)], and stressful events [OR = 12.14, 95% CI (6.48, 22.72)], and social support was a protective factor [OR = 0.76, 95% CI (0.63, 0.91), < 0.05].
CONCLUSION
Based on the exploration of risk factors for perimenopausal depression in Chinese women, we aimed to provide guidance for the screening of risk factors for depression in perimenopausal women and thereby reduce the incidence of depression.
SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION
https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/#myprospero, CRD42023403972.
PubMed: 37886118
DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1199806 -
Depression and Anxiety Aug 2015Controversy regarding the antidepressant efficacy of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) stems almost from its inception and reflects the same methodological... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Controversy regarding the antidepressant efficacy of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) stems almost from its inception and reflects the same methodological inconsistencies that have compromised efforts to determine whether the perimenopause is accompanied by an increase in mood symptoms or depression. Methodologic differences of note (other than study design) include menopausal state (perimenopause vs. postmenopause), determination of state (earlier studies used age as a proxy measure), baseline symptomatology (asymptomatic vs. depressive symptoms vs. syndromic depression), route of hormone administration (transdermal vs. oral), and symptom or syndrome measure. Zweifel and O'Brien's 1997 meta-analysis included 26 studies of the effects of menopausal HRT on depressed mood and revealed an overall effect size of 0.68. This moderate to large effect size, showing lower ratings of depressed mood in treated patients compared with controls, implicated HRT as a potential treatment of or prophylactic for depression in menopausal women. Since this publication, multiple studies have aimed to discern the relationship between HRT and menopausal mood.
METHODS
The purpose of this systematic review is to examine the findings and quality of the evidence amassed since Zweifel and O'Brien's meta-analysis.
RESULTS
Of the 24 studies meeting criteria for review, only five RCTs examined depressed subjects, and only two of the study samples were solely perimenopausal.
CONCLUSIONS
One can generalize from the studies reviewed here only with great caution, but there is little evidence to support the use of estradiol to improve mood in nondepressed patients (not surprisingly) and some evidence to support the antidepressant efficacy of estradiol in perimenopausal but not postmenopausal women.
Topics: Depression; Estradiol; Estrogens; Female; Hormone Replacement Therapy; Humans; Middle Aged; Perimenopause
PubMed: 26130315
DOI: 10.1002/da.22391 -
Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology Jul 2021Women's increased risk for depression during reproductive transitions suggests an involvement of the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian (HPO) axis. This is the first... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
Women's increased risk for depression during reproductive transitions suggests an involvement of the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian (HPO) axis. This is the first systematic review and meta-analysis of HPO functioning in female mood disorders. Inclusionary criteria were: i) women suffering from premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) or a depressive disorder, ii) assessment of HPO-axis related biomarkers, iii) a case-control design. Sixty-three studies (N = 5,129) were included. There was evidence for PMDD to be paralleled by lower luteal oestradiol levels. Women with depression unrelated to reproductive transition showed lower testosterone levels than healthy controls and there was some evidence for lower dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate levels. There were no differences in HPO-related parameters between women with pregnancy, postpartum, and perimenopausal depression and controls. Women with PMDD and depression unrelated to reproductive transitions exhibit specific changes in the HPO-axis, which potentially contribute to their symptoms. Further research into reproductive mood disorders characterised by extreme endocrine changes is warranted.
Topics: Female; Hormones; Humans; Mood Disorders; Pregnancy; Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder; Premenstrual Syndrome
PubMed: 34171352
DOI: 10.1016/j.yfrne.2021.100929 -
Frontiers in Psychiatry 2021Many women with perimenopausal depression (PMD) have sought alternative therapies such as acupuncture because of concerns about risks associated with antidepressant and...
Many women with perimenopausal depression (PMD) have sought alternative therapies such as acupuncture because of concerns about risks associated with antidepressant and hormone replacement therapy (HRT). This systematic review aimed to clarify if acupuncture is effective for PMD compared with waitlist control or placebo/sham acupuncture, and if acupuncture alone or combined with standard care (antidepressant and/or HRT) is more effective in ameliorating PMD in comparison with standard care alone. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of PMD treatment acupuncture vs. waitlist control or placebo/sham acupuncture, and RCTs of PMD treatment acupuncture alone or combined with Western pharmacotherapy vs. Western pharmacotherapy were searched for from seven databases from inception to December 2020. Cochrane criteria were followed. Twenty-five studies involving 2,213 women were analyzed. Meta-analyses indicated that acupuncture significantly reduced the global scores of Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD) [standardized mean difference (SMD) = -0.54, 95% CI (-0.91, -0.16), < 0.01], compared with standard care. The therapeutic effect of acupuncture maintained at 2-, 4-, and 12-week follow-ups. Acupuncture combined with standard care was more effective than standard care alone in decreasing HAMD scores [SMD = -0.82, 95% CI (-1.07, -0.58), < 0.01]. Too few RCTs were available to assess the clinical efficacy differences between acupuncture and placebo/sham acupuncture or HRT alone. Acupuncture also showed better effects in decreasing Kupperman index (KI) scores, whether compared with antidepressant alone [MD = -4.55, 95% CI (-8.46, -0.65), = 0.02] or antidepressant combined with HRT [MD = -0.89, 95% CI (-1.34, -0.43), < 0.01]. In comparison with standard care, acupuncture alone or combined with standard care was associated with significant improvements in PMD and reductions of other menopausal symptoms. This finding suggests that acupuncture may be a useful addition to treatment for PMD.
PubMed: 34122180
DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.666988 -
Journal of General Internal Medicine Jan 2014Hot flashes are the most commonly reported vasomotor symptom during the peri- and early post-menopausal period. (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
Hot flashes are the most commonly reported vasomotor symptom during the peri- and early post-menopausal period.
OBJECTIVES
To systematically review, appraise and summarize the evidence of the impact of different SSRIs on peri-menopausal hot flashes in healthy women in randomized, controlled trials.
METHODS
A comprehensive literature search was conducted of MEDLINE™, EMBASE, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Web of Science and Scopus through March 2013. Two independent reviewers selected studies and extracted data. Random effects meta-analysis was used to pool outcomes across studies, and Bayesian mixed treatment methods were used to rank SSRIs in terms of effectiveness.
RESULTS
We included a total of 11 randomized controlled trials with good methodological quality enrolling 2,069 menopausal and post-menopausal women (follow-up 1-9 months, mean age 36-76 years, mean time since menopause 2.3-6.6 years). Compared with placebo, SSRIs were associated with a statistically significant decrease in hot flash frequency (difference in means -0.93; 95 % CI -1.46 to -0.37; I(2) = 21 %) and severity assessed by various scales (standardized difference in means -0.34; 95 % CI -0.59 to -0.10; I(2) = 47 %). Adverse events did not differ from placebo. Mixed treatment comparison analysis demonstrated the superiority of escitalopram compared to other SSRIs in terms of efficacy.
CONCLUSION
SSRI use is associated with modest improvement in the severity and frequency of hot flashes but can also be associated with the typical profile of SSRI adverse effects.
Topics: Female; Hot Flashes; Humans; Menopause; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors; Severity of Illness Index; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 23888328
DOI: 10.1007/s11606-013-2535-9 -
Annals of Palliative Medicine Oct 2022Postmenopausal women are one of the most vulnerable groups to osteoporosis. Romosozumab is a newly monoclonal drug that inhibits the activity of sclerostin. Since it has... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Postmenopausal women are one of the most vulnerable groups to osteoporosis. Romosozumab is a newly monoclonal drug that inhibits the activity of sclerostin. Since it has been on the market for only 3 years, there is a lack of systematic analysis on postmenopausal women and the efficacy is not clear. In this study, we compared randomized controlled trials to assess the effects of blosozumab versus placebo in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women.
METHODS
This meta-analysis has been registered in the PROSPERO registry (number CRD42020145839). The PubMed, Cochrane Library, ClinicalKey, and Embase databases were searched from inception date to July 01, 2021. We used the keywords "osteoporosis", "decreased bone mass", and "blosozumab" to retrieve studies on the relationship between blosozumab and osteoporosis in each database. The inclusion criteria were: (I) randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing the treatment of osteoporosis with blosozumab and a placebo or without treatment, (II) studies on postmenopausal women aged over 50 years, and (III) studies providing bone mineral density data. The quality of all randomized controlled trials included in this study was independently assessed by two researchers according to the Cochrane risk manual and was divided into high, medium and low quality. The main results analyzed were bone mineral density (BMD) and T-score. Our results mainly include BMD and procollagen type I N-terminal propeptide (P1NP), C-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen (CTX), bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (BSAP), and osteocalcin (OC).
RESULTS
Three RCTs with 105 patients were selected from 157 retrieved articles. Due to high heterogeneity [BMD: Tau2=2.79; Chi2=11.70, degrees of freedom (df) =1 (P=0.0006); I2=91%], we could not perform statistical analysis of BMD. The results of BMD were then evaluated systematically. Three RCT studies were included in the evaluation. Compared with that of the placebo, blosozumab increased levels of the BMD biomarker osteocalcin [mean deviation (MD) 12.55; 95% confidence interval (CI), 8.18, 16.91; P<0.00001]. None of the 3 RCTs presented a risk of bias during the meta-analysis.
CONCLUSIONS
The results suggested that blosozumab could be used as a target drug to improve BMD in postmenopausal women. This will provide a reference for the clinical treatment of postmenopausal women with osteoporosis.
Topics: Female; Humans; Middle Aged; Bone Density Conservation Agents; Osteocalcin; Osteoporosis; Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal; Postmenopause; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
PubMed: 36367007
DOI: 10.21037/apm-22-998 -
Human Reproduction Update 2009BACKGROUND Hormonal effects of soy and isoflavones have been investigated in numerous trials with equivocal findings. We aimed to systematically assess the effects of... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND Hormonal effects of soy and isoflavones have been investigated in numerous trials with equivocal findings. We aimed to systematically assess the effects of soy and isoflavones on circulating estrogen and other hormones in pre- and post-menopausal women. METHODS The Cochrane Library, MEDLINE and EMBASE (plus reviews and experts) were searched to December 2007. Inclusion of randomized or residential crossover trials of soy or isoflavones for 4 or more weeks on estrogens, SHBG, FSH, LH, progesterone and thyroid hormones in women was assessed independently in duplicate. Six percent of papers assessed were included. Data concerning participants, interventions, outcomes, potential effect modifiers and trial quality characteristics were extracted independently in duplicate. RESULTS Forty-seven studies (11 of pre-, 35 of post- and 1 of perimenopausal women) were included. In premenopausal women, meta-analysis suggested that soy or isoflavone consumption did not affect primary outcomes estradiol, estrone or SHBG concentrations, but significantly reduced secondary outcomes FSH and LH [by approximately 20% using standardized mean difference (SMD), P = 0.01 and 0.05, respectively]. Menstrual cycle length was increased by 1.05 days (95% CI 0.13, 1.97, 10 studies). In post-menopausal women, there were no statistically significant effects on estradiol, estrone, SHBG, FSH or LH, although there was a small statistically non-significant increase in total estradiol with soy or isoflavones ( approximately 14%, SMD, P = 0.07, 21 studies). CONCLUSIONS Isoflavone-rich soy products decrease FSH and LH in premenopausal women and may increase estradiol in post-menopausal women. The clinical implications of these modest hormonal changes remain to be determined.
Topics: Adult; Aged; Female; Gonadal Steroid Hormones; Humans; Isoflavones; Menstrual Cycle; Middle Aged; Postmenopause; Premenopause; Soy Foods
PubMed: 19299447
DOI: 10.1093/humupd/dmp010