Article Impact Level: HIGH Data Quality: STRONG Summary of Mayo Clinic Proceedings, 100(1), 42–51. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mayocp.2024.07.009 Dr. Mariam Saadedine et al.
Points
- The study found that midlife women who provide caregiving experience a higher burden of menopause symptoms.
- The proportion of women reporting moderate to severe menopause symptoms rose with caregiving hours—50.4% for those providing 15+ hours per week compared to 34.1% for those caregiving less than 5 hours per week (P<.001).
- Caregiving for 15+ hours per week significantly increased the likelihood of experiencing moderate or worse menopause symptoms (OR 1.77; 95% CI 1.39–2.26; P<.001), remaining significant even after adjusting for confounders (OR 1.37; 95% CI 1.05–1.78; P=.02).
- As caregiving demands rise with an aging population, menopause symptoms in caregivers must be addressed to support their well-being.
- The findings highlight the importance of healthcare interventions to alleviate menopause-related health burdens among midlife caregivers.
Summary
This study examined the association between caregiving and menopause symptom burden in midlife women. A cross-sectional analysis was conducted among 4295 women aged 45 to 60 who received primary care at one of four Mayo Clinic locations between March 1 and June 30, 2021. Caregiving status was self-reported, and menopause symptoms were assessed using the Menopause Rating Scale. The primary outcome was the presence of moderate or worse menopause symptoms, with 37.6% of women reporting symptoms in this category.
The results revealed a clear relationship between caregiving hours and the severity of menopause symptoms. Of the 4295 women, 845 (19.7%) identified as caregivers. Among those, the proportion reporting moderate to severe menopause symptoms increased with the number of caregiving hours: 34.1% in those caregiving less than 5 hours per week, 42.6% in those caregiving 5 to 14 hours per week, and 50.4% in those caregiving 15 or more hours per week (P<.001). In univariate analysis, caregiving for 15 or more hours per week significantly increased the odds of experiencing moderate or worse menopause symptoms in at least one symptom domain compared to non-caregivers (odds ratio [OR], 1.77; 95% CI, 1.39 to 2.26; P<.001). This association remained significant in multivariable analysis after adjusting for potential confounders (OR, 1.37; 95% CI, 1.05 to 1.78; P=.02).
In conclusion, this study highlights a positive association between caregiving hours and increased menopause symptom burden. Given the growing aging population and the increasing caregiving responsibilities, it is critical to address the menopause symptoms and provide additional support to midlife women who are also caregivers. This research underscores the importance of understanding and mitigating the health impacts of caregiving on this demographic.
Link to the article: https://www.mayoclinicproceedings.org/article/S0025-6196(24)00353-7/fulltext
References Saadedine, M., Safwan, N., Kapoor, E., Shufelt, C. L., Kling, J. M., Hedges, M. S., Chaudhry, R., Cole, K., Winham, S. J., Griffin, J. M., & Faubion, S. S. (2025). Association of informal caregiving and menopause symptoms in midlife women: A cross-sectional study. Mayo Clinic Proceedings, 100(1), 42–51. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mayocp.2024.07.009
