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. 2014 Aug;69(8):1011-7.
doi: 10.1093/gerona/glt285. Epub 2014 Jan 24.

Longitudinal assessment of the menopausal transition, endogenous sex hormones, and perception of physical functioning: the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation

Samar R El Khoudary  1 , Candace K McClure  2 , Trang VoPham  2 , Carrie A Karvonen-Gutierrez  3 , Barbara Sternfeld  4 , Jane A Cauley  2 , Naila Khalil  5 , Kim Sutton-Tyrrell  2
Affiliations

Longitudinal assessment of the menopausal transition, endogenous sex hormones, and perception of physical functioning: the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation

Samar R El Khoudary et al. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2014 Aug.

Abstract

Background: To evaluate the longitudinal associations between menopausal status, related hormonal changes, and level of self-reported physical functioning.

Methods: Study included 2,495 women (age: 45-57 between 2000 and 2001) from the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation. Physical functioning scale of the Medical Outcomes Study Short-Form (SF-36; score 0-100) was categorized as: no limitation (86-100), moderate limitation (51-85), and substantial limitation (0-50). Study variables were collected between 2000 (visit-04) and 2011 (visit-12) at five timepoints. Statistical models were adjusted for age at visit-04, time since visit-04, ethnicity, site, economic status, level and change in body mass index, level and change in physical activity, and presence of comorbid conditions.

Results: In final models, natural and surgical postmenopausal women had significantly higher odds of functional limitation, compared with premenopausal women. Less reduction in estradiol and testosterone since visit-04 were significantly associated with lower odds of functional limitation, while greater increase in sex hormone-binding globulin was associated with higher odds of functional limitation.

Conclusions: Our findings suggest the menopause-related changes in endogenous sex hormones as a possible mechanism of action to explain the greater limitation in physical functioning reported in women at midlife.

Keywords: Epidemiology; Functional performance; Geriatric endocrinology; Menopause.; Physical function.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Percentages of physical function limitation categories over time. * No limitation: physical functioning score 86–100; some limitation: physical functioning score 51–85; substantial limitation: physical functioning score: ≤50. -Cross-sectional sample size at each visit: visit-04 = 2,257, visit-06 = 2,142, visit-08 = 2,126, visit-10 = 2,091, visit-12 = 2,035. Common reasons for loss to follow-up: refusing to complete the form, missing the study visit and study deactivation. || p < .0001 for greater odds of substantial limitation versus no limitation and some limitation at visit-12 compared with visit-04.
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