Menopause symptom prevalence in three post–COVID-19 syndrome clinics in England: A cross-sectional analysis

Stewart, Stuart ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7767-4308, Heald, Adrian H ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9537-4050, Pyne, Yvette and Bakerly, Nawar Diar ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2102-1997 (2024) Menopause symptom prevalence in three post–COVID-19 syndrome clinics in England: A cross-sectional analysis. IJID Regions, 12. 100405. ISSN 2772-7076

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Abstract

Objectives: There is an overlap between symptoms of perimenopause/menopause and post-COVID syndrome and there is a concern that some female patients referred to post-COVID syndrome clinics may have undiagnosed perimenopause/menopause. However, the prevalence of such symptoms in this population is unknown. Methods: Cross-sectional analysis of 122 women's health questionnaires as part of a service improvement project in three National Health Service post-COVID syndrome clinics in England. The primary outcomes were prevalence of menopause symptoms and association between the total menopause symptom questionnaire (MSQ) score and the key predictors. Results: Age group 40-54 years showed the highest prevalence of most individual symptoms and the highest mean total MSQ score (36.4; confidence interval [CI] 32.3-40.6), correlating clinically with the onset of perimenopause/menopause. Regression modeling shows a significant positive parabolic relationship between age and total MSQ score. Age group 40-54 years is associated with a 6.60-point higher (CI 1.31-11.9) total MSQ score than the age group 55-79 years; an increase of one index of multiple deprivation quintile is associated with a 2.85-point lower (CI −1.24 to −4.45) total MSQ score; presence of a gynecologic diagnosis is associated with a 6.31-point higher (CI 1.32-11.3) total MSQ score. A total of 51% of patients who menstruate reported menstrual disturbance with COVID-19 infection and 21% with COVID-19 vaccination. Conclusions: Symptoms possibly attributable to perimenopause and menopause were highly prevalent among female patients attending post-COVID syndrome clinics in Greater Manchester, England. Our findings provide key prevalence estimates and significant predictors of MSQ scores that are vital for future research, clinical practice, and policy.