Influência de fatores sociodemográficos e sintomas do climatério na qualidade de vida de mulheres em transição menopausal

Abstract

Introduction: The climacteric phase represents a period of intense hormonal, physical, and emotional changes that significantly impact women's quality of life. Objective: This study aimed to assess the impact of sociodemographic factors and climacteric symptoms on the quality of life of women aged 40 to 65. Method: This is a quantitative, descriptive, and cross- sectional study, approved by the Research Ethics Committee on Human Beings (CAAE: 78713924.2.0000.5152), comprising 240 women, either users or employees of a university hospital located in the interior of Minas Gerais. Data collection took place between June and September 2024, using instruments such as a sociodemographic questionnaire, the World Health Organization Quality of Life - Bref scale (WHOQOL-Bref) to assess quality of life, and the Menopause Rating Scale (MRS) to evaluate the severity of symptoms related to climacteric and menopause. Data were analyzed using multiple linear regression. Results: The average age was 46.9 years, with most participants identifying as mixed race (42.5%), married (56.3%), and having completed high school (40%). A total of 106 women (44.2%) had experienced menopause. Additionally, 73.7% reported climacteric symptoms of moderate to severe intensity. Climacteric symptoms were negative predictors of quality of life across all domains: physical (β = -0.54; p < 0.01), psychological (β = -0.46; p < 0.01), social (β = -0.35; p < 0.01), and environmental (β = -0.29; p < 0.01). Higher educational attainment was positively associated with two domains, social (β = 0.19; p = 0.0103) and environmental (β = 0.23; p = 0.01), while self-reported white skin color showed a positive association in the social domain (β = 0.12; p < 0.05). Conclusion: Based on the data obtained, the study reinforces the importance of integrated care strategies that are sensitive to the specific needs of women during the climacteric period, aiming to promote female well-being throughout this transitional phase.