Climacteric and quality of life: Analysis of patients seen at the gynecology outpatient clinic of ‘’Hospital Universitário Lauro Wanderley’’ UFPB (Atena Editora)

Abstract

Goal: To characterize the population of climacteric women treated at a university hospital regarding their sociodemographic profile and the presence of symptoms related to the climacteric, in search of risk factors involved. Methods:A total of 175 women were interviewed at a gynecology outpatient clinic with sociodemographic data collected, in addition to the application of the Women's Health Questionnaire (QSM) to assess common climacteric symptoms. These data were crossed in the SPSS 26.0 program with frequency analysis, chi-square test and quantification of the odds ratio. In addition to logistic regression to assess the association of variables and the occurrence of symptoms. Results: Regarding the sociodemographic profile, the average age was 50.7 years, and they were mostly non-white, with a partner, earning less than 2 minimum wages, with children and who had not undergone a hysterectomy. Regarding the distribution in the QSM Domains, 85% of the interviewees scored more than 2.2. The variables income and menopausal status were directly associated with Depression, with p=0.035 and p=0.045, respectively. An association was also demonstrated between non-white race and vasomotor symptoms. An interesting association found in this study concerns the relationship between performing a hysterectomy and the Domains of Memory/Concentration (p=0.036) and anxiety (0.033), where hysterectomized women would be more prone to the involvement of these Domains. Conclusion: The results of this study show that among the nine Domains of the Women's Health Questionnaire, seven were above the General Average. Average values greater than 2.2 are considered possible cases of low quality of life. These findings show that the studied population lacks local health policies that provide them with a better quality of life.