Comparison of Hot Flushes and Night Sweats Frequency and Problem Rating Among Working and Non-Working Perimenopausal Women

Abstract

Objective: To determine the frequency of hot flushes and night sweats problem and compare this among working and non working perimenopausal women.

Methodology: This was a prospective comparative analytical study, conducted over a 3 months period from August, 2018 to November, 2018 at KRL Hospital Islamabad, Fauji Foundation Hospital Islamabad, and public sector university Islamabad. A total of 150 women were allocated equally into one of the three respective study groups. One group comprising of 50 nursing staff, second group of 50 female teaching staff and third group of 50 housewives attending the gynae OPD. The women included were over 45 years old, had no physical or mental health problems, and could answer the questions. The tool was a questionnaire that was based on the hot flushes and night sweats problem rating scale questionnaire, devised by Hunter et al in 1995. Data was collected on the performa and analyzed on SPSS 23.

Results: The overall prevalence of vasomotor symptoms was 22% in the study participants, and was highest in housewives (45.5%) and teachers (42.4%). The median hot flushes frequency per week was significantly higher in teachers and lowest in nursing staff. (P value=0.001). The mean problem rating score was more in the teacher followed by housewives and nurses. (P value=0.012).

Conclusion: Hot flushes were more frequently occurring and more stressful at work for teachers as compared to nursing staff. Housewives experiences more hot flushes and night sweats than nursing staff but both of them cope better with the stress.