Mihoko Akiyoshi

Insomnia in Japanese peri- and postmenopausal women

Objective To determine the prevalence and to identify the correlates of insomnia in Japanese peri- and postmenopausal women. Method We retrospectively analyzed the records of 1451 peri- and postmenopausal women enrolled in the Systematic Health and Nutrition Education Program, conducted at the Menopause Clinic of the Tokyo Medical and Dental University Hospital, between 1995 and 2009. Results The prevalence of insomnia was 50.8%. The severity of insomnia correlated negatively with health-related quality of life (HR-QOL) scores on all the four domains assessed: physical health, mental health, life satisfaction and social involvement. With regard to other menopausal symptoms, insomnia correlated more strongly with depressed mood than with vasomotor symptoms, and one-third of insomniac women were seriously depressed. On categorizing the participants into four groups – not insomniac or depressed, N; insomniac but not depressed, I; not insomniac but depressed, D; insomniac and depressed, ID – the HR-QOL scores were observed to worsen in order N > I > D > ID. No significant difference was detected between groups I and ID with regard to their sleep quality measures. The number of heavy smokers was high in groups I and ID. With regard to the effect of the combination of medication and health/nutrition education, hormone therapy and nightly hypnotics significantly improved the insomnia symptoms, but hypnotics administered ‘as needed’ did not. Conclusions Insomnia in Japanese peri- and postmenopausal women correlates more strongly with depressed mood than with vasomotor symptoms. Cessation of smoking may improve the womens sleep quality, and hormone therapy and nightly hypnotics are both effective treatments.

Effects of grape seed proanthocyanidin extract on menopausal symptoms, body composition, and cardiovascular parameters in middle-aged women: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study.

ObjectiveThis study aims to assess the effects of proanthocyanidin—a class of polyphenol antioxidants extracted from grape seeds—on menopausal symptoms, body composition, and cardiovascular parameters in middle-aged women. MethodsWe conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study in 96 women aged 40 to 60 years who had at least one menopausal symptom. The study participants were randomized to receive grape seed extract tablets containing either low-dose (100 mg/d) or high-dose (200 mg/d) proanthocyanidin, or placebo, for 8 weeks. Their menopausal symptoms were evaluated using the Menopausal Health–Related Quality of Life Questionnaire, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and Athens Insomnia Scale before and after 4 and 8 weeks of treatment. Body composition and cardiovascular parameters were also measured. ResultsA total of 91 women (95%) completed the study. Background characteristics, including age, menopause status, subjective symptom scores, body composition, and cardiovascular parameters, were similar among the groups. The following significant changes were observed during the course of the study: (1) physical symptom score, hot flash score, and (2) Athens Insomnia Scale score decreased in the high-dose group after 8 weeks of treatment; (3) Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale Anxiety score and (4) systolic and diastolic blood pressure decreased in the low-dose and high-dose groups after 4 weeks; and, (5) lastly, muscle mass increased in the low-dose and high-dose groups after 8 weeks of treatment. ConclusionsGrape seed proanthocyanidin extract is effective in improving the physical and psychological symptoms of menopause while increasing muscle mass and reducing blood pressure in middle-aged women.

Associations between anxiety, depression and insomnia in peri- and post-menopausal women

OBJECTIVES To determine the correlation between somatic and psychological symptoms and insomnia and the contribution of depression and anxiety to insomnia in a sample of peri- and post-menopausal women in a clinical setting. STUDY DESIGN The responses of 237 peri- and post-menopausal women enrolled in the Systematic Health and Nutrition Education Program (SHNEP) at the Menopause Clinic of the Tokyo Medical and Dental University Hospital between November 2007 and December 2010 to the Menopausal Health-Related Quality of Life (MHR-QOL) and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) questionnaires were subjected to Spearmans rank correlation and logistic regression analyses. RESULTS The analysis revealed that (1) insomnia is highly prevalent, (2) the symptoms of difficulty in initiating sleep (DIS) and experiencing non-restorative sleep (NRS) are more strongly correlated with psychological than somatic symptoms, and (3) DIS is strongly associated with anxiety while NRS is strongly associated with depression in the population studied. CONCLUSIONS Insomnia is highly prevalent among peri- and post-menopausal female patients in a clinical setting and more closely associated with psychological than somatic symptoms. DIS is strongly correlated with anxiety while NRS is strongly correlated with depression.

Associations among depression, anxiety and somatic symptoms in peri‐ and postmenopausal women

The aim of this study was to investigate the associations among depression, anxiety and physical symptoms in peri‐ and postmenopausal women in a clinical setting.

Effects of oral estrogen and hypnotics on Japanese peri- and postmenopausal women with sleep disturbance.

Aim:  To assess the effects of estrogen and hypnotics on Japanese peri‐ and postmenopausal women with sleep disturbance.

Effects of the Kampo medication keishibukuryogan on blood pressure in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women

To examine the effects of keishibukuryogan (TJ‐25)—a medicine of the Kampo tradition (the Japanese adaptation of Chinese herbal medicine)—on middle‐aged women with high blood pressure.

Prevalence and predictors of storage lower urinary tract symptoms in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women attending a menopause clinic.

Objective:This study was undertaken to evaluate the prevalence and predictors of storage lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women attending a menopause clinic. Methods:The records of 351 women aged 40 to 76 years who enrolled in a health and nutrition education program at a menopause clinic were analyzed cross-sectionally. The prevalence of frequency, nocturia, urge incontinence, and stress incontinence was estimated based on womens responses to the Menopausal Health-Related Quality of Life Questionnaire. Effects of background characteristics, including age, menopause status, vaginal dryness, body composition, cardiovascular parameters, physical fitness, and psychological symptoms, on storage LUTS were assessed using multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results:Frequency, nocturia, urge incontinence, and stress incontinence were reported by 45.9%, 10.8%, 11.4%, and 32.8% of women, respectively. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed independent associations between storage LUTS and the following predictors after adjustment: frequency was associated with nonrestorative sleep score (odds ratio, 1.63; 95% CI, 1.35-1.95); nocturia was associated with nonrestorative sleep score (odds ratio, 2.26; 95% CI, 1.57-3.25) and waist-to-hip ratio (odds ratio, 1.12; 95% CI, 1.05-1.18); urge incontinence was associated with reaction time (odds ratio, 1.10; 95% CI, 1.01-1.19); and stress incontinence was associated with body fat (odds ratio, 1.06; 95% CI, 1.03-1.09). Conclusions:Storage LUTS are highly prevalent in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women attending a menopause clinic. Nonrestorative sleep score is associated with frequency and nocturia; body fat and visceral fat accumulation are associated with nocturia and stress incontinence; and delayed reaction time is associated with urge incontinence. Careful evaluation of nonrestorative sleep, body fat and visceral fat accumulation, or delayed reaction time might reveal undisclosed storage LUTS in this population.

Effects of the Kampo Formula Tokishakuyakusan on Headaches and Concomitant Depression in Middle-Aged Women

Objectives. To identify the correlates of headaches in middle-aged women and investigate the effects of Tokishakuyakusan (TJ-23), a formula of traditional Japanese herbal therapy Kampo, on headache and concomitant depression. Methods. We examined cross-sectionally the baseline records of 345 women aged 40–59 years who visited our menopause clinic. Among them, 37 women with headaches were treated with either hormone therapy (HT) or TJ-23; the data of these women were retrospectively analyzed to compare the effects of the treatment. Results. The women were classified into 4 groups on the basis of their headache frequency, and no significant intergroup differences were noted in the physical or lifestyle factors, except age. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that the significant contributors to the womens headaches were their age (adjusted OR 0.92 (95% CI 0.88–0.97)) and their depressive symptoms (adjusted OR 1.73 (95% CI 1.39–2.16)). Compared to women treated with HT, women treated with TJ-23 reported relief from headaches (65% versus 29%) and concomitant depression (60% versus 24%) more frequently. Improvement in the scores of headaches and depression correlated significantly with TJ-23 treatment. Conclusions. Headache in middle-aged women is significantly associated with depression; TJ-23 could be effective for treating both of these symptoms.

Raloxifene temporarily reduces arterial stiffness

Aim:  Aortic stiffness is widely recognized as an important, independent determinant of cardiovascular risk. The cardio‐ankle vascular index (CAVI) has been developed to estimate vascular wall stiffness which is theoretically less affected by varied blood pressure. The purpose of this paper was to evaluate the change of CAVI during one‐year use of raloxifene (RLX).

Subjective insomnia is associated with low sleep efficiency and fatigue in middle-aged women

Abstract Objectives: Many middle-aged women are affected by sleep disturbance. We investigated how subjective insomnia is associated with objective sleep parameters and other background characteristics. Methods: This cross-sectional study used baseline data obtained from 95 women aged 40–59 years who participated in another study assessing the effects of a dietary supplement. Participants wore an actigraph unit for 3 days to collect information concerning physical activities and objective sleep parameters and were then evaluated for body composition, cardiovascular parameters, and menopausal symptoms including insomnia and fatigue, and lifestyle factors. Stratifying Athens Insomnia Scale scores as low (0–5 points, control group) and high (≥ 6 points, subjective insomnia group), we sought to identify the parameters that are independently associated with subjective insomnia. Results: Women with subjective insomnia (n = 30) had lower sleep efficiency than did the controls. They were also older; had more live births, lower height, higher body mass index, lower ankle brachial index, and more severe menopausal symptoms including fatigue; took more naps; smoked more cigarettes; and more of them were full-time workers. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that low sleep efficiency (adjusted odds ratio, 1.44 per 1% decrease in sleep efficiency; 95% confidence interval 1.06–2.05) and fatigue assessed with Brief Fatigue Inventory (BFI) (adjusted odds ratio, 1.57 per 1-point increase in BFI score; 95% confidence interval 1.19–2.13) were independent contributors to subjective insomnia. Conclusions: Low sleep efficiency and feeling of fatigue were found to be independently associated with subjective insomnia in middle-aged women.