Małgorzata Szkup

Effects of Socio-Demographic, Personality and Medical Factors on Quality of Life of Postmenopausal Women

Numerous studies show that changes occurring in a woman’s organism during menopause may lower her quality of life. This study involved 630 healthy postmenopausal women from Poland. Its purpose was to assess their quality of life in relation to socio-demographic variables, medical data and personality profiles. The authors used the Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) to assess quality of life, the NEO-Five Factor Inventory to measure personality traits, and the Blatt-Kupperman Menopausal Index to estimate severity of climacteric symptoms. The study demonstrated significant relationships between quality of life and variables such as: age, education, employment status, and the use of menopausal hormone therapy. An analysis of personality traits revealed correlations between the openness to experience scores and the quality of life within physical functioning, vitality, and mental health. Neuroticism, agreeableness and extroversion significantly correlated with all quality of life domains. Conclusions: (1) Age, education and employment status have significant effects on the selected quality of life domains after menopause. (2) Quality of life within the general health domain was assessed lower by MHT-users (Menopausal hormone theraphy (MHT)). (3) Health-related quality of life is also influenced by personality traits, which are relatively stable throughout life.

Evaluation of the Relationship between 5-HTT and MAO Gene Polymorphisms, Mood and Level of Anxiety among Postmenopausal Women

Objective: The aim of this study was to analyze how mood and anxiety level are related to the functional genetic polymorphism in the promoter region of SLC6A4 (5-HTTLPR) and the 30-bp VNTR polymorphism in the MAO A promoter region. Methods: The study involved 272 postmenopausal women from Poland. The authors employed the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for measuring levels of anxiety, the Mood Adjective Check List for measuring mood, and genetic tests. Results: Analysis did not show any statistically significant differences in the mean levels of anxiety, and mood disorders in women in relation to genotypes of the 5-HTTLPR (SLC6A4) polymorphism and the 30-bp VNTR polymorphism in the MAO A promoter region. However, these problems were more severe among women with s/s genotype. In the case of MAO A gene polymorphism, the level of anxiety was higher in women with a 4/4 genotype. Conclusions: The study did not prove the possibility of the identification of homogeneous groups of women with an elevated risk of developing anxiety and mood disorders during the post-menopausal period. Nevertheless, it showed that respondents with s/s genotype of the 44-bp polymorphism in the 5-HTT (SLC6A4) promoter region had the highest average anxiety levels both as a state and as a trait. Furthermore, the analysis of the 30-bp VNTR polymorphism in the MAO A promoter region demonstrated slight differences in anxiety levels between the women, indicating that those with a 4/4 genotype had higher severity of anxiety symptoms.

Erratum to: Analysis of Relations Between the Level of Mg, Zn, Ca, Cu, and Fe and Depressiveness in Postmenopausal Women.

In the above-mentioned article, the author namesMałgorzata Szkup, Anna Jurczak, Aleksandra Brodowska, Agnieszka Brodowska, Iwona Noceń, Dariusz Chlubek, Maria Laszczyńska, Beata Karakiewicz and Elżbieta Grochans were written incorrectly; the words in each name were out of sequence. However, these errors have been corrected already in both the referenced article and in the author listing for this article. The authors regret the oversight.

Analysis of Sociodemographic, Psychological, and Genetic Factors Contributing to Depressive symptoms in Pre-, Peri- and Postmenopausal Women

Depressive symptoms that are faced by women in the pre-, peri-, and postmenopausal periods are determined by a wide array of sociodemographic, psychological, and biological variables. The aim of our study was to identify factors that contribute to depressive problems at this stage of life. The study included 815 healthy Polish women aged 45–60 years. The survey part was conducted using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), the State–Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), the Neuroticism–Extroversion–Openness Five Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI), and a self-developed questionnaire. Genetic analysis was also performed. Depressive symptoms were observed in 25.5% of participants. 70% of the women were postmenopausal. No statistically significant differences in the severity of depressive symptoms were demonstrated with regard to genetic variables (p > 0.05). Reproductive capacity (p < 0.001), employment (p < 0.001), and being married (p < 0.018) were found to reduce the incidence of depressive symptoms. The contribution of personality and anxiety as a trait to depressive symptoms varied. Conclusions: The factors predisposing pre-, peri-, and postmenopausal women to depressive symptoms include lower education, lack of a life partner, unemployment, high anxiety, and neurotic personality. No evidence was found for the contribution of genetic factors to depressive symptoms in the examined women.

Influence of cigarette smoking on hormone and lipid metabolism in women in late reproductive stage

Background The aim of the study was to analyze lipid and hormone metabolism, body mass index (BMI), and age parameters in late reproductive stage women in relation to cigarette smoking. Methods The study enrolled 345 healthy late reproductive stage women living in Poland; 13.33% were smokers. The first part of the study assessed lipid metabolism (total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein [HDL], low-density lipoprotein [LDL], and triglycerides) and hormone metabolism (estradiol [E2], follicle-stimulating hormone [FSH], and anti-Müllerian hormone [AMH] levels) in women in the early phase of the follicular menstrual cycle. The second part of study was carried out using the diagnostic survey method, with a standardized questionnaire (Primary Care Evaluation of Mental Disorders [PRIME-MD]) and the authors’ own research tools. Results The women were aged 42.3±4.5 years (mean ± SD). The BMI (24.8±4.04 kg/m2) did not differ significantly between the groups. The women who smoked cigarettes had a statistically significantly (p<0.05) lower level of HDL as well as higher LDL and triglyceride levels (p<0.05). Differences were also shown in hormone levels: non-smoking participants had statistically significantly higher levels of E2 and FSH (p<0.05). In the group of non-smoking women, age was a predictor exerting a significant positive impact on the levels of total cholesterol, LDL, triglycerides, and AMH (p<0.05). BMI contributed to a decline in HDL and triglyceride levels. In the group of smoking women, age significantly positively influenced the level of E2, and negatively influenced AMH. BMI was associated with a significant decrease in the HDL level. Conclusion Smoking cigarettes affects the physical health of women in late reproductive stage through negative influences on lipid and hormone metabolism, among other factors. Age is an unmodifiable factor adversely affecting both lipids and hormones. Higher BMI has a negative influence on lipid metabolism in both groups of women in this study.

Searching for the relationship between the parameters of metabolic syndrome and the rs17782313 (T>C) polymorphism of the MC4R gene in postmenopausal women

Metabolic syndrome (MS) is widespread in the human population, and its incidence is continuously increasing, generating serious health problems. The purpose of this study was to find the relationship between the parameters of MS and the melanocortin type 4 receptor (MC4R) gene polymorphism in postmenopausal women. The study involved 344 healthy Polish women, who had their last menstrual cycle 1 year ago or earlier. The study included blood analysis, survey, and body measurements. The mean age was 58.5±6.6 years. An increased body mass index was observed in 65.7% and abdominal obesity in 80.3% of the study population. MS was diagnosed in 40.7% of all participants, including 39.3% of women with the T/T genotype and 44.7% of those with the C/X genotype (χ2 test; P>0.05). A logistic regression model showed that the probability of MS was higher in patients with the C/X genotype (odds ratio =1.25) (χ2 test; P>0.05). The study concluded that MS is a very common condition among postmenopausal women. The C/X genotype of the MC4R gene seems to predispose postmenopausal women to developing some MS symptoms.

An analysis of the influence of selected genetic and hormonal factors on the occurrence of depressive symptoms in late-reproductive-age women.

Background: The aim of this study was to analyze the influence of genetic and hormonal factors on incidences of depressive symptoms in late-reproductive-age women. Methods: The study was performed using the Beck Depression Inventory, the PCR, and genetic tests of 347 healthy late-reproductive-age Polish women. Results: The relationship between the level of anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) and depressive symptoms was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). Increases in age and FSH levels were accompanied by a decrease in AMH level in a significant way (p < 0.05). There were no statistically significant relationships between the distribution of genotypes and the frequency of alleles of the investigated polymorphisms and depressive symptoms according to the Beck Depression Inventory. Conclusions: (1) The presence of the s/s genotype of the 5-HTTLPR polymorphism in the serotonin transporter promoter region and the 3/3 genotype of the 30-bp VNTR polymorphism in the monoamine oxidase A promoter region does not contribute to the development of depressive symptoms in late-reproductive-age women. (2) A relationship between the level of anti-Müllerian hormone and depressive symptoms was not confirmed in the group of healthy late-reproductive-age women. (3) AMH level correlates negatively with FSH level and age, which confirms that AMH can be regarded as a factor reflecting the ovarian reserve.

Analiza wpływu stresu na wypalenie zawodowe pielęgniarek

Wstep. Wypalenie zawodowe staje sie coraz bardziej powszechne wśrod polskich pielegniarek, jest reakcją na przewlekly stres emocjonalny i interpersonalny związany z pracą zawodową. Cel pracy. Celem badan byla ocena wplywu stresu na wypalenie zawodowe pielegniarek. Material i metody. Badania przeprowadzono wśrod 203 pielegniarek czynnych zawodowo, zatrudnionych w szpitalach na terenie zachodniej Polski. W pracy zastosowano standaryzowane narzedzia badawcze: Kwestionariusz Psychospolecznych Warunkow Pracy, Kwestionariusz poczucia stresu oraz Kwestionariusz Wypalenia Zawodowego Ch. Maslach. Wyniki. Dlugotrwaly stres wplywa na wystepowanie zespolu wypalenia zawodowego. Badania wykazaly zaleznośc pomiedzy poszczegolnymi skalami poczucia stresu a ogolnym wskaźnikiem wypalenia zawodowego. Stwierdzono wysoką dodatnią korelacje pomiedzy ogolnym wskaźnikiem wypalenia zawodowego a napieciem emocjonalnym (r = 0,63, p < 0,05), stresem zewnetrznym (r = 0,55, p < 0,05) i stresem intrapsychicznym (r = 0,56, p < 0,05) oraz wysoką ujemną korelacje pomiedzy ogolnym wskaźnikiem wypalenia zawodowego i dobrostanem (r= –0,53, p < 0,05). Stwierdzono rowniez wysoką ujemną korelacje pomiedzy dobrostanem i napieciem emocjonalnym (r = –0,63, p < 0,05), stresem zewnetrznym (r = –0,51, p < 0,05), i stresem intrapsychicznym (r = –0,56, p < 0,05). Wnioski. 1. Dlugotrwale napiecie emocjonalne i stres w miejscu pracy skutkują wystąpieniem zespolu wypalenia zawodowego. 2. Nalezaloby podjąc dzialania zmierzające do poprawy bezpieczenstwa w środowisku pracy — zmniejszenia napiecia emocjonalnego i depersonalizacji, co korzystnie wplynie na ryzyko wystąpienie zespolu wypalenia zawodowego.

Ocena jakości życia pacjentów hemodializowanych z uwzględnieniem czynników socjodemograficznych i medycznych

Background. The assessment of the quality of life of hemodialysis patients enables us to identify their problems ? resulting from a chronic disease. Aim of the study. The aim of this study was to assess the quality of life of hemodialysis patients. Material and methods. This survey-based study involved 131 patients of the Dialysis Center of the Provincial Hospital in Gorzow Wielkopolski. The instruments employed were a standardized questionnaire ? SF-36. Results. Vitality was found to be significantly related to such variables as age, marital status, and the type of job, and the mental component was related to participation in social life, stay in hospital, marital status, smoking cigarettes, and financial standing. Conclusions. A high social status, the number of hospital stays, and duration of dialysis significantly contribute to the quality of life of hemodialysis patients. Key words: quality of life, hemodialysis, patient

Influence of Pb and Cd levels in whole blood of postmenopausal women on the incidence of anxiety and depressive symptoms

INTRODUCTION To-date, the influence of heavy metals such as Pb or Cd on mental functioning, and especially on the occurrence of depressive and anxiety-related disorders, has not been well understood. OBJECTIVES 1) Assessment of Pb and Cd levels in whole blood of postmenopausal women. 2) Assessment of the severity of anxiety and depressive symptoms depending on Pb and Cd levels in whole blood of postmenopausal women. MATERIAL AND METHODS The survey-based study involved 198 healthy postmenopausal women from West Pomeranian province in Poland. It was performed using the Primary Care Evaluation of Mental Disorders (PRIME-MD), Becks Depression Inventory (BDI), and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). The second part of the study was based on biochemical analysis of the levels of heavy metals (Pb, Cd). RESULTS The mean level of Pb was 19.85 ± 8.99 µg/l and Cd 0.87±0.98 µg/l; these levels were within normal ranges. Analysis of the mean levels of Pb and Cd in whole blood of postmenopausal women in relation to the severity of depressive symptoms did not reveal statistically significant differences. Correlation analysis demonstrated a statistically significant (p<0.05) negative correlation (-0.22) between the level of Pb and the severity of anxiety as a state. Correlations between the levels of Pb and Cd and the severity of anxiety as a trait were not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS The mean Pb and Cd levels in whole blood of healthy postmenopausal women did not exceed acceptable limits. The study did not confirm a relationship between the levels of selected heavy metals and the severity of anxiety and depressive symptoms in healthy women. However, there was a relationship between the level of Pb and the severity of anxiety as a state.