Dysmenorrhea Severity in War Refugees with Hypertension: a Cross-talk with Antihypertensives and Analgesics

Overview

Journal Afr Health Sci

Date 2024 Jul 8

PMID 38974256

Authors

Omar Salem Gammoh

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Dysmenorrhea is the most common gynecological condition among women of reproductive age. Investigating the cross-talk between hypertension and dysmenorrhea is attractive and understudied, moreover, menstrual health is poorly studied in refugees.

Objectives: The present study aims at examining the association between dysmenorrhea severity and antihypertensives and analgesics namely acetaminophen and Non-Steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) used by traumatized Syrian war refugees with hypertension.

Methods: This is a cross-sectional study recruiting Syrian female refugees with hypertension. A structured questionnaire probed their demographics and clinical data. Dysmenorrhea severity was assessed using the WaLIDD (working ability, location, intensity, days of pain, dysmenorrhea) self-report scale.

Results: Data were analysed from 125 patients, almost half were diabetic, 47 (37.6%) had dyslipidemia, 59 (47%) reported using β-blockers, 56 (44.8%) reported using ACEIs/ARBs, 43 (34.2) reported using CCBs and 30 (25%) were using diuretics. According to the multivariate binary logistic regression, severe dysmenorrhea was associated with acetaminophen OR 6.5, 95%CI (1.39-30.55), p=0.02 and NSAIDs use OR 2.97, 95%CI (1.28-6.89), p=0.02. Antihypertensive drugs were not associated with dysmenorrhea severity.

Conclusion: Determinants of severe dysmenorrhea in patients with hypertension need more study, herein we report that analgesics but not antihypertensives are not associated with dysmenorrhea severity.

References

French L . Dysmenorrhea. Am Fam Physician. 2005; 71(2):285-91. View

Coco A . Primary dysmenorrhea. Am Fam Physician. 1999; 60(2):489-96. View

Feng X, Wang X . Comparison of the efficacy and safety of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for patients with primary dysmenorrhea: A network meta-analysis. Mol Pain. 2018; 14:1744806918770320. PMC: 5987898. DOI: 10.1177/1744806918770320. View

Mehilli J, Presbitero P . Coronary artery disease and acute coronary syndrome in women. Heart. 2020; 106(7):487-492. DOI: 10.1136/heartjnl-2019-315555. View

Kizilhan J . Trauma and Pain in Family-Orientated Societies. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2017; 15(1). PMC: 5800143. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph15010044. View

Gammouh O, Al-Smadi A, Tawalbeh L, Khoury L . Chronic diseases, lack of medications, and depression among Syrian refugees in Jordan, 2013-2014. Prev Chronic Dis. 2015; 12:E10. PMC: 4310712. DOI: 10.5888/pcd12.140424. View

Barcikowska Z, Rajkowska-Labon E, Grzybowska M, Hansdorfer-Korzon R, Zorena K . Inflammatory Markers in Dysmenorrhea and Therapeutic Options. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020; 17(4). PMC: 7068519. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17041191. View

Reese Masterson A, Usta J, Gupta J, Ettinger A . Assessment of reproductive health and violence against women among displaced Syrians in Lebanon. BMC Womens Health. 2014; 14(1):25. PMC: 3929551. DOI: 10.1186/1472-6874-14-25. View

Ratnayake R, Rawashdeh F, AbuAlRub R, Al-Ali N, Fawad M, Bani Hani M . Access to Care and Prevalence of Hypertension and Diabetes Among Syrian Refugees in Northern Jordan. JAMA Netw Open. 2020; 3(10):e2021678. PMC: 7557515. DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.21678. View

10.

Charkoudian N, Hart E, Barnes J, Joyner M . Autonomic control of body temperature and blood pressure: influences of female sex hormones. Clin Auton Res. 2017; 27(3):149-155. DOI: 10.1007/s10286-017-0420-z. View

11.

Moretti C, Lanzolla G, Moretti M, Gnessi L, Carmina E . Androgens and Hypertension in Men and Women: a Unifying View. Curr Hypertens Rep. 2017; 19(5):44. DOI: 10.1007/s11906-017-0740-3. View

12.

Castellon X, Bogdanova V . Chronic Inflammatory Diseases and Endothelial Dysfunction. Aging Dis. 2016; 7(1):81-9. PMC: 4723236. DOI: 10.14336/AD.2015.0803. View

13.

Kotani N, Oyama T, Sakai I, Hashimoto H, Muraoka M, Ogawa Y . Analgesic effect of a herbal medicine for treatment of primary dysmenorrhea--a double-blind study. Am J Chin Med. 1997; 25(2):205-12. DOI: 10.1142/S0192415X9700024X. View

14.

Morisky D, Green L, Levine D . Concurrent and predictive validity of a self-reported measure of medication adherence. Med Care. 1986; 24(1):67-74. DOI: 10.1097/00005650-198601000-00007. View

15.

Armstrong C . JNC8 guidelines for the management of hypertension in adults. Am Fam Physician. 2014; 90(7):503-4. View

16.

Dawood M . Primary dysmenorrhea: advances in pathogenesis and management. Obstet Gynecol. 2006; 108(2):428-41. DOI: 10.1097/01.AOG.0000230214.26638.0c. View

17.

Doocy S, Lyles E, Roberton T, Akhu-Zaheya L, Oweis A, Burnham G . Prevalence and care-seeking for chronic diseases among Syrian refugees in Jordan. BMC Public Health. 2015; 15:1097. PMC: 4628338. DOI: 10.1186/s12889-015-2429-3. View

18.

Xu H, Li P, Barrow T, Colicino E, Li C, Song R . Obesity as an effect modifier of the association between menstrual abnormalities and hypertension in young adult women: Results from Project ELEFANT. PLoS One. 2018; 13(11):e0207929. PMC: 6261602. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0207929. View

19.

Parra-Fernandez M, Onieva-Zafra M, Abreu-Sanchez A, Diego Ramos-Pichardo J, Iglesias-Lopez M, Fernandez-Martinez E . Management of Primary Dysmenorrhea among University Students in the South of Spain and Family Influence. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020; 17(15). PMC: 7432638. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17155570. View

20.

Matthewman G, Lee A, Kaur J, Daley A . Physical activity for primary dysmenorrhea: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2018; 219(3):255.e1-255.e20. DOI: 10.1016/j.ajog.2018.04.001. View