Number of Caregiving Hours Affect Menopause Symptom Burden

THURSDAY, Feb. 13, 2025 (HealthDay News) — Caregiving is associated with menopause symptom burden, according to a study published in the January issue of the Mayo Clinic Proceedings.

Mariam Saadedine, M.D., from the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida, and colleagues conducted a cross-sectional analysis among women aged 45 to 60 years receiving primary care at one of four Mayo Clinic geographic locations and who completed a survey study. Data were included for 4,295 women, 19.7 percent of whom self-identified as caregivers.

Overall, 37.6 percent of the women reported moderate to very severe menopause symptoms. The researchers found that as the number of caregiving hours increased, the proportion of women with moderate or worse menopause symptoms in at least one symptom domain increased: 34.1, 42.6, and 50.4 percent for those with less than five, five to 14, and 15 or more hours of caregiving per week, respectively. In a univariate analysis, compared with no caregiving, caregiving for 15 or more hours per week significantly increased the odds of having moderate or worse menopause symptoms in at least one symptom domain (odds ratio, 1.77). After adjustment for potential confounders, the association remained significant in a multivariable analysis (odds ratio, 1.37).

“These findings shed light on an unexplored intersection of the menopause and caregiving experiences of midlife women,” the authors write. “For clinicians, it underscores the importance of an integrated approach to recognizing and addressing caregiving as an influential factor in the menopause experience.”

Several authors disclosed ties to the pharmaceutical and medical education industries.

Abstract/Full Text