The relationship between early postmenopausal symptoms, sexual function, and serum levels of dehydroepiandrosterone with anxiety score in postmenopausal women referring to health centers of Tabriz

Abstract

Anxiety is independently associated with severe quality of life impairment and severe postmenopausal symptoms. The aim of this study is evaluation of the relationship between early postmenopausal symptoms, sexual function, and serum levels of dehydroepiandrosterone with anxiety score in postmenopausal women referring to health centers of Tabriz. Materials and Methods: The present study was a cross-sectional observational study and its target population was all postmenopausal women aged 50-60 under the coverage of Tabriz health centers in 2022. Considering that postmenopausal women have files in health centers, 117 women aged 50-60 with mild to moderate anxiety score covered by these centers who met the the inclusion criteria formed the sample of the study. The sampling method in this study was available. For volunteers, after explaining the goals and informed written consent, Beck's anxiety questionnaire (score range between 0-63) was completed through an interview, and if they had mild and moderate anxiety based on the anxiety questionnaire and were eligible for the study, they were included in the study. Then Greene menopause symptoms questionnaire (score range between 0-63) and FSFI sexual function questionnaire (score range between 2-36) were completed. Then the serum level of Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) was measured by ELISA method by Monobind kit. Results: In this study, the mean (standard deviation) of total score of sexual function (FSFI) and postmenopausal symptoms (Greene) of the subjects were 19.12 (±0.6) and 23.78 (±9.5), respectively. Also, in these people, the mean (SD) of the Beck anxiety score (BECK) was 15.51 (±6.1) and the mean (SD) of the serum level of dihydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) was 71.52 (±28.6) micrograms per deciliter. By adjusting the confounding variables of age and education level, among the variables related to sexual function (FSFI), none of them had a statistically significant relationship with Beck's anxiety score (BECK) (P>0.05). Also, by adjusting the confounding variables of age and education level, among the variables related to menopause symptoms (Greene), the total score of menopause symptoms (Greene) (r=0.535; P<0.001) and subdomains of anxiety (r=0.448; P<0.001), depression (r=0.344; P<0.001) and physical symptoms (r=0.509; P<0.001) had a statistically significant positive relationship with Beck's anxiety score (BECK); However, there was no statistically significant relationship between vasomotor symptoms subdomain with Beck's anxiety score (BECK) (P>0.05). Finally, by adjusting the confounding variables of age and education level, there was a statistically significant negative relationship between DHEA level and Beck's anxiety score (BECK) (r=-0.754; P<0.001). Anxiety score was able to predict menopausal symptoms and its sub-domains except for area of sexual and DHEA level.