Álvaro Monterrosa-Castro

Assessment of sleep quality and correlates in a large cohort of Colombian women around menopause.

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to determine the relationship between self-reported sleep quality, menopausal symptom intensity, and correlates (including ethnicity) among middle-aged women. MethodsThe present cross-sectional study involved 1,078 Colombian women aged 40 to 59 years who completed the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), the Menopause Rating Scale (MRS), and a general questionnaire exploring sociodemographic data. ResultsThe median [interquartile range] age of the whole sample was 49.0 [9.0] years. Among the participants, 45.4% were postmenopausal, 57.2% had increased body mass index values, 13.9% were black, 20.7% had hypertension, 74.1% had a stable partner, and 3.8% used hormone therapy. The prevalence of poor sleep quality was 57.1% (PSQI global score ≥5). Significant correlations between PSQI global scores and MRS total and subscale scores were found. Multiple linear regression analysis found that higher PSQI scores (poorer quality of sleep) correlated with higher MRS psychological and somatic subscale scores (more severe symptoms), smoking habit, and hypertension. Menopause status and black ethnicity were excluded from the final regression model. ConclusionsDespite study limitations, poor sleep quality is highly prevalent in this large middle-aged Colombian female sample and is related to menopausal symptom severity, tobacco use, and presence of hypertension.

Quality of life in a large cohort of mid-aged Colombian women assessed using the Cervantes Scale.

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to assess quality of life (QoL) in a cohort of mid-aged Colombian women using the Cervantes Scale (CS). MethodsIn this cross-sectional study, 1,739 healthy women aged 40 to 59 years were asked to simultaneously fill out the CS and a questionnaire containing general female demographic data. The CS includes four domains: menopause and health (15 items), psychological (9 items), sexuality (4 items), and couple relationship (3 items). In addition, the menopause and health domain includes three subdomains: vasomotor symptoms, health, and aging. The global CS score may range from 0 to 155 (from better to worse QoL). ResultsMultiple linear regression determined that CS scores (global and domains) significantly increased (therefore, worse QoL) with age, menopause status, body mass index, parity, race, and marital and working status. The CS displayed a high internal consistency as Cronbach &agr; values for the global and domain scores were above 0.80. ConclusionsThis is the first study to report QoL assessment using the CS among mid-aged Latin American women from Colombia in whom age, menopause status, body mass index, and other personal factors influenced QoL.

Urinary incontinence, related factors and menopause-related quality of life in mid-aged women assessed with the Cervantes Scale.

OBJECTIVE To determine urinary incontinence (UI) prevalence, related factors and menopause-related quality of life (QoL) in mid-aged Colombian women. METHODS A total of 1739 women aged 40-59 were surveyed with the 31 item Cervantes Scale (CS) and a socio-demographic questionnaire. Item 18 of the scale was used to categorize the degree of UI. Remaining 30 items (Adjusted global score) were used to assess global menopause-related QoL. RESULTS Median age of the sample was 46 years. A 26.0% of women presented some degree of UI, rated as moderate to severe in 16.4% of cases. Adjusted global CS scores (excluding item 18) significantly increased with the severity of UI. Mean scores for item 18 were found to be significantly higher in relation to age, menopausal status, body mass index values, lower education and unemployment status. Multiple linear regression analysis determined that age, postmenopausal status and ethnicity (Mestizo) were significantly related to higher item 18 scores, and thus more severe UI. CONCLUSION This is the first study to report UI prevalence in a large mid-aged Latin American female population in which age, menopausal status and ethnicity were related factors.

Prevalence of insomnia and related factors in a large mid-aged female Colombian sample

OBJECTIVE To assess the prevalence of insomnia and related factors in a large cohort of mid-aged Colombian women of different ethnical background. METHODS This cross-sectional study involved 1325 women aged 40-59 of 3 ethnical groups: Mestizo (70.0%), Black (11.5%) and Zenú indigenous (18.5%), who completed the items of the Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS), the Menopause Rating Scale (MRS) and a general questionnaire containing personal socio-demographic data. RESULTS Median [interquartile range] age of the whole sample was 48.0 [10.0] years. A 43.4% were postmenopausal, 51.7% had increased body mass index values, 18.2% had hypertension and 5.1% used hormone therapy. A 27.5% displayed insomnia (AIS total score ≥6). Significant Spearman rho correlations were found between total AIS and MRS scores (total and subscales). Multiple linear regression analysis found that higher total AIS scores (more insomnia) correlated with tobacco consumption and higher MRS psychological and somatic subscale scores (more severe symptoms). Age, ethnicity and partner and menopausal status were excluded from the final regression model. CONCLUSIONS In this large mid-aged Colombian cohort insomnia was present in nearly one third of cases, related to smoking habit and the severity of somatic and psychological menopausal symptoms and independent of ethnics and menopausal status.

Assessment of menopause-related symptoms in mid-aged women with the 10-item Cervantes Scale

OBJECTIVE To develop a short 10 item version of the original menopause Cervantes Scale (CS) in order to assess menopausal symptoms in a large cohort of mid-aged Colombian women. METHODS Reliability of the new short tool was assessed through internal consistency determination (Cronbachs alpha values) and intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) analysis. Ten items out of the 31 composing the original CS were selected according to their clinical relation with menopausal symptoms. Subsequently the short tool was used to assess menopausal symptoms and related factors among 1739 mid-aged women. RESULTS The CS-10 displayed a mean (±SD) ICC value of 0.45 (±0.06) and a Cronbachs alpha of 0.778 suggesting good internal reliability. For the entire sample median [interquartile range] CS-10 global scores were 10.0 [12.0], and for pre-, peri- and postmenopausal women: 8.0 [9.2], 9.0 [9.0] and 14.0 [14.0], respectively. Median global CS-10 scores significantly increased with menopausal status, marital status and ethnicity. Multiple linear regression analysis determined that higher global CS-10 scores (worse quality of life) correlated with age, parity, years since menopause, body mass index, ethnics (black) and smoking habit. CONCLUSION The CS-10 seems to be a simple instrument that may aid everyday clinical consultation and help at performing an accurate diagnosis of menopause-related symptoms. Further studies are needed to confirm our preliminary findings.

Differential Item Functioning of the Psychological Domain of the Menopause Rating Scale

Introduction. Quality of life could be quantified with the Menopause Rating Scale (MRS), which evaluates the severity of somatic, psychological, and urogenital symptoms in menopause. However, differential item functioning (DIF) analysis has not been applied previously. Objective. To establish the DIF of the psychological domain of the MRS in Colombian women. Methods. 4,009 women aged between 40 and 59 years, who participated in the CAVIMEC (Calidad de Vida en la Menopausia y Etnias Colombianas) project, were included. Average age was 49.0 ± 5.9 years. Women were classified in mestizo, Afro-Colombian, and indigenous. The results were presented as averages and standard deviation (X ± SD). A p value <0.001 was considered statistically significant. Results. In mestizo women, the highest X ± SD were obtained in physical and mental exhaustion (PME) (0.86 ± 0.93) and the lowest ones in anxiety (0.44 ± 0.79). In Afro-Colombian women, an average score of 0.99 ± 1.07 for PME and 0.63 ± 0.88 for anxiety was gotten. Indigenous women obtained an increased average score for PME (1.33 ± 0.93). The lowest score was evidenced in depressive mood (0.50 ± 0.81), which is different from other Colombian women (p < 0.001). Conclusions. The psychological items of the MRS show differential functioning according to the ethnic group, which may induce systematic error in the measurement of the construct.

Insomnia and sexual dysfunction associated with severe worsening of the quality of life in sexually active hysterectomized women

Introduction Hysterectomy is a common gynecologic surgery carried out to remove the pathologic uterus. Objective: To establish if sleep disorders and sexual function are associated with deterioration of the quality of life (QoL) in hysterectomized and sexually active women. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out with inhabitants from two cities of the Colombian Caribbean. The pollsters invited women aged between 40-59 years to participate; in their communities they applied surveys with demographic characteristics: Female Sexual Function Index, Atenas Insomnia Scale and Menopause Rating Scale. Sexually active women were selected; then the association was established with logistic regression. Results: 522 women were studied with an average age of 50 years: 30% oophorectomized, 59.8% Hispanic, 40.2% afro-descendants and 22.2% hormonal therapy users. 80% of them had somato/vegetative, psychological or urogenital deterioration; 29.1% with severe deterioration of QoL and 47.5% with insomnia. Out of 390 (74.7%) with sexual activity, 59.7% suffered from sexual dysfunction. Insomnia: OR:3.05 [95%CI:1.86-4.99], sexual dysfunction OR:3.52 [95%CI:2.01-6.17], dissatisfaction about sexuality OR:4.77 [95%CI:2.08-10.93], low or non-existent sexual desire OR:2.94 [95%CI:1.65-5.25], daytime drowsiness OR:3.15 [95%CI:1.59-6.24] and decrease in daytime well-being OR:3.18 [95%CI:1.79-5.64]. These were factors associated with severe worsening of QoL, while the presence of genital lubrication was protective, OR: 0.44 [95%CI:0.21-0.93], p=0.0332. Conclusion: It was observed that insomnia and sexual dysfunction behaved as factors associated with three times more severe deterioration of the QoL in climacteric and sexually active women previously hysterectomized.

Utilidad de menopause rating scale (mrs) en indígenas colombianas en climaterio

The Menopause Rating Scale (MRS) measures quality of life in menopausal women. It compounds of three dimensions that assess somatic, psychological and urogenital menopausal-related symptoms. However, the validity of the scales may vary according to population characteristics, and there are no validations to date of MRS in American indigenous population. To assess the validity of MRS in Indigenous Colombian women during menopause. A research was done a sample of 914 indigenous women, 507 postmenopausal women and 407 premenopausal. They were between 40-49 years-old, with a mean age of 59.3 ± 5.9years. MRS was applied to all enrolled women. Cronbachs alpha was applied for the original proposed dimensions, and the dimensions from the results of factor analysis and maximum likelihood methods. A Promax rotation was applied to analysis. MRS showed a Cronbachs alpha: 0.86. The somatic dimension: 0.63, the psychological dimension: 0.75, and urogenital: 0.84. Score was greater in postmenopausal compared to premenopausal, 14.4 (±SD, 6.4) versus 8.4 (±SD, 5.9) (P<0.001). The factor analysis showed two dimensions. The first dimension included items 1,7,8,9,10,11; and accounted for 39.9% of variance. The second dimension included items 2,3,4,5,6; explaining 14.2% of variance. Cronbachs alpha was 0.86 for the first dimension and 0.81 for the second dimension. MRS showed high internal consistency and adequate nomological validity. The factor analysis resulted in two dimensions. These results evidence the need to better assess the validity of the instruments in different populations.

Instruments to study sleep disorders in climacteric women

To identify the scales to assess sleep disorders applied to women with climacteric stage. Bibliographical research without intervention, the available information in scientific databases. Performed in PubMed, ScienceDirect, Scopus, Ebscohos OvidSP and Health Library. The words used in this article: insomnia, adjustment sleep disorder, questionnaires, studies and menopause. Publications of all types were included. Seven scales were identified: Insomnia Severity Index, Athens Insomnia Scale, Pittsburgh Quality of sleep Index, Epworth Sleepiness Scale, Jenkins Sleep Scale, Basic Nordic Sleep Questionnaire and The St Marys Hospital Sleep Questionnaire. There are validated scales in multiple languages and considered appropriate for studying sleep disorders.

Prevalencia de baja autoestima y nivel de resiliencia bajo, en gestantes adolescentes de poblaciones del caribe colombiano

SUMMARY Introduction: Teenage pregnancy is a major problem of public health with medical, psychological and social consequences associated with early initiation of intercourse without sufficient contraceptive protection. Objective: To estimate the prevalence of Low Self-esteem (LSE) and Low Level of Resilience (LLR) in a group of pregnant adolescents. Methods: Cross-sectional study carried out in adolescents, in urban and rural areas of the department of Bolivar in the Colombian Caribbean pregnant. A questionnaire was applied to identify sociodemographic characteristics of the pregnant women and their partners, gynecological and obstetrical history, health history, psycho-emotional state with pregnancy, family support and partner. The Rosenberg self-esteem scale and Wagnild and Young resilience scale were included. Results: Participated 406 pregnant adolescents. The average age was: 16.5±1.5 years. A large majority left school when they became pregnant. The average self-esteem score was 27.8±3.9. The 76.8% of pregnant women had normal