Self-reported arthritis and the menopause

Objectives To determine the prevalence of self-reported arthritis in a population-based cohort of mid-aged women and to identify health, social and lifestyle factors associated with self-reported arthritis. Design Cross-sectional population-based survey. Method Data were obtained from a telephone-ad...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Climacteric : the journal of the International Menopause Society 2005-03, Vol.8 (1), p.49-55
Main Authors: Szoeke, CEI, Cicuttini, F, Guthrie, J, Dennerstein, L
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aches and Joint Symptoms
Arthritis
Arthritis - epidemiology
Body Mass Index
Cohort Studies
Cross-Sectional Studies
Female
Humans
Interviews as Topic
Menopause
Middle age
Middle Aged
Multivariate Analysis
Pain
Polls & surveys
Prevalence
Risk Factors
Victoria - epidemiology
Women
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Objectives To determine the prevalence of self-reported arthritis in a population-based cohort of mid-aged women and to identify health, social and lifestyle factors associated with self-reported arthritis. Design Cross-sectional population-based survey. Method Data were obtained from a telephone-administered questionnaire of 2001 Australian-born women between 45 and 55 years old and residing in Melbourne. Information was collected on demographics, lifestyle factors and health conditions. Results The most commonly reported symptom in this cohort was aches and stiff joints, reported by 51.7% of the women; 34.4% of participants reported they had been diagnosed with arthritis. More postmenopausal women (39%) reported that they were diagnosed with arthritis compared to premenopausal women (27%, p < 0.001). Women who reported arthritis were more likely to be older (odds radio (OR), 1.09; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.05-1.13), have a higher body mass index (OR, 1.04; CI, 1.02-1.07), be postmenopausal (OR, 1.88; CI, 1.33-2.66), have a higher negative mood (OR, 1.80; CI, 1.13-2.87), and report a decreased interest in sex (OR, 1.58; CI, 1.26-1.97). Conclusions Aches and stiff joints are the most frequently reported symptom of mid-aged women. Reported arthritis is associated with postmenopausal status, age, body mass index, less interest in sex and lowered mood. Further longitudinal research is needed to determine the role of these factors in the development and impact of arthritis.
ISSN:1369-7137
1473-0804
DOI:10.1080/13697130400012296