Association of Menopausal Vasomotor Symptom Severity with Sleep and Work Impairments: a US Survey

Objective: Menopausal vasomotor symptoms commonly disrupt sleep and affect daytime productivity. This online survey evaluated associations between vasomotor symptom severity and perceived sleep quality and work productivity.

Methods: Participants were perimenopausal or postmenopausal US women aged 40 to 65 years with ≥14 vasomotor symptom episodes per week for ≥1 week in the past month. The women, who were recruited from Dynata panels via email invitation and categorized by vasomotor symptom severity based on the Menopause Rating Scale, were surveyed about sleep and work productivity and completed the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Sleep Disturbance Short Form 8b (primary outcome) and Sleep-Related Impairment Short Form 8a, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and Work Productivity and Activity Impairment questionnaire.

Results: Among 619 respondents (mean age, 53 y; White, 91%; perimenopausal, 34%; postmenopausal, 66%; 57.5% were never treated for vasomotor symptoms), vasomotor symptoms were mild in 88, moderate in 266, and severe in 265. A majority (58% overall) were employed, including 64.8%, 49.6%, and 64.2% of women with mild, moderate, and severe VMS, respectively. Of the 90.8% who reported that vasomotor symptoms affect sleep (81.8%, 86.8%, and 97.7% of those with mild, moderate, and severe VMS), 83.1% reported sleep-related changes in productivity (75.0%, 73.2%, and 94.2%, respectively). Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Sleep Disturbance Short Form 8b mean T scores in the mild (T score, 53.5), moderate (57.3), and severe (59.8) VMS cohorts indicated more sleep disturbance than in the general population (T score, 50; overall P < 0.001 before and after controlling for confounding variables). Sleep-Related Impairment 8a results were similar. Vasomotor symptom severity was positively associated with Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index mean scores, presenteeism, absenteeism, overall work impairment, and impairment in general activities.

Conclusions: Greater vasomotor symptom severity was associated with more sleep disturbance, more sleep-related impairment, worse sleep quality, and greater impairment in daytime activities and work productivity.