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Middle-aged menopausal woman with glasses looking up and smile

THE BURDEN OF VMS

The impact of VMS associated with menopause can be significant on individuals’ quality of life

Vasomotor symptoms (VMS), commonly referred to as hot flushes and night sweats, are amongst the most frequent and bothersome symptoms associated with menopause due to their sud­den and seemingly random onset during the day and night.1,2

 

Take the quiz to evaluate your knowledge about VMS:

Question

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Your Results

Waking up in the middle of the night due to VMS, feeling hot with a damp pillowcase, is classified as what severity of VMS?

Severe. A severe VMS episode is defined as the sensation of heat with sweating causing cessation of activity (such as sleeping). A moderate VMS episode is defined as the sensation of heat with sweating while maintaining the ability to continue activity. A mild VMS episode is defined as the sensation of heat without sweating.2

 

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Approximately what percentage of women experience VMS, also known as hot flushes and night sweats, during the menopausal transition?

Up to 80% of women experience VMS during the menopausal transition.2

 

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Sleep disturbances are one of the most bothersome aspects of the menopausal transition.

True. 40% to 60% of women report sleep disturbances during the menopausal transition.3

 

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On average, how many times per week do women experience VMS?

Postmenopausal women who experience VMS reported an average of 33.5 hot flushes and night sweats per week.4

 

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VMS can impact: 

All of these. Women living with VMS reported a negative impact on sleep (82%), mood (69%), concentration (69%), energy (63%), sexual activity (41%), work (46%), social activities (44%), and leisure activities (48%).5

 

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How likely are severe VMS to cause a negative impact on overall quality of life compared to mild or moderate symptoms?

3.6x. Women with severe VMS were 3.58 times as likely to be negatively impacted as those with mild or moderate symptoms.5

 

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VMS may be an indicator of future chronic conditions.

True. Studies have shown that the frequency and severity of VMS can be used as a predictor of chronic disease in the future, such as cognitive impairment, cardiovascular disease, and bone health.6

 

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Hot flushes always diminish after age 55.

False. A study of postmenopausal women in 5 European countries (France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the UK) was equally stratified by 3 age groups: 45 to 54, 55 to 64, and ≥65. Among women with symptoms of menopause, the current incidence of hot flushes generally diminished with age. Across the countries, hot flushes remained prevalent after age 64, especially in Germany (56%) and France (57%).7

 

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VMS can persist for a median of 7 to 10 years; although this seems dependent on the timing of onset and ethnicity8,9

Middle-aged menopausal woman talking and smiling toghether

Not actual patients

VMS in her words

“What really gets me about menopause is the hot flushes. Suddenly I’m turning red, and there’s
nothing I can do about it.”

Learn more about the impacts of VMS

It’s time to prioritise VMS

References:

  1. Monteleone P, Mascagni G, Giannini A, et al. Symptoms of menopause - global prevalence, physiology and implications. Nat Rev Endocrinol 2018;14(4):199-215.
  2. Thurston RC. Vasomotor symptoms. In: Crandall CJ, Bachman GA, Faubion SS, et al., eds. Menopause Practice: A Clinician’s Guide. 6th ed. Pepper Pike, OH: The North American Menopause Society 2019:43-55.
  3. Baker FC, Lampio L, Saaresranta T, Polo-Kantola P. Sleep and sleep disorders in the menopausal transition. Sleep Med Clin 2018;13(3);443-56.
  4. Hunter MS, Gentry-Maharaj A, Ryan A, et al. Prevalence, frequency and problem rating of hot flushes persist in older postmenopausal women: impact of age, body mass index, hysterectomy, hormone therapy use, lifestyle and mood in a cross-sectional cohort study of 10 418 British women aged 54-65. BJOG 2012;119(1):40-50.
  5. Williams RE, Levine KB, Kalilani L, et al. Menopause-specific questionnaire assessment in US population-based study shows negative impact on health-related quality of life. Maturitas 2009;62(2):153-159.
  6. Biglia N, Cagnacci A, Gambacciani M, et al. Vasomotor symptoms in menopause: a biomarker of cardiovascular disease risk and other chronic diseases? Climacteric 2017;20(4):306-312.
  7. Constantine GD, Graham S, Clerinx C, et al. Behaviours and attitudes influencing treatment decisions for menopausal symptoms in five European countries. Post Reprod Health 2016;22(3):112-122.
  8. Nappi RE, Kroll R, Siddiqui E, et al. Global cross-sectional survey of women with vasomotor symptoms associated with menopause: prevalence and quality of life burden. Menopause 2021; 28(8):875-882.
  9. Avis NE, Crawford SL, Greendale G, et al. Duration of menopausal vasomotor symptoms over the menopause transition. JAMA Intern Med 2015;175(4):531-539.

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