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    Item type:Publication,
    Severity of menopausal symptoms is associated with lower work-related quality of life and job satisfaction in midlife Latin American women: REDLINC XIII
    (2026)
    María S. Vallejo
    ;
    Juan E. Blümel
    ;
    Peter Chedraui
    ;
    Juan Matsumura-Kasano
    ;
    Paolo Meza
    Background: Female participation in the workforce has increased, particularly among women over 50; hence, the influence of menopause on occupational well-being requires greater attention. Although the epidemiology of climacteric symptoms has been well documented, their impact on job satisfaction and work-related quality of life remains underexplored, especially in low- and middle-income countries, and is virtually absent from large, multinational studies in Latin America. Objective: To evaluate the relationship between severe menopausal symptoms and occupational well-being among salaried, employed midlife women in Latin America. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted between June 2024 and January 2025 across 30 centres in 12 Latin American countries, with a total of 2035 employed women (aged 40 to 60 years). Menopausal symptoms were assessed with the Menopause Rating Scale, and occupational well-being domains were assessed using the Work-Related Quality of Life Scale and the Job Satisfaction Scale. Hierarchical multiple linear regression analyses were conducted to assess the contribution of menopausal symptom severity to occupational well-being. Results: Women with severe menopausal symptoms scored significantly lower across all domains of both the Job Satisfaction Scale and the Work-Related Quality of Life Scale. Hierarchical regression analyses showed that menopausal symptoms were the strongest predictors of job satisfaction (R2 = 0.133). Higher education, menopausal hormone therapy use, and physical activity were positive predictors, whereas number of children, comorbidities, psychotropic medication use, and higher body mass index were associated with lower job satisfaction. For work-related quality of life (R2 = 0.121), education, physical activity, and sexual activity were the main positive predictors, while psychological and severe menopausal symptoms were the strongest negative predictors. The final models explained 13.3% of the variance in job satisfaction and 18.7% in work-related quality of life. Conclusions: This study, one of the first large multinational analyses in Latin-American, shows that the severity of menopausal symptoms is negatively associated with occupational well-being. These findings highlight the necessity for workplace strategies and public policies that recognise menopause as a significant determinant of women's occupational well-being. © 2026 Elsevier B.V.
      4
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    Item type:Publication,
    Hot flashes: a potential marker of deterioration of health-related quality of life
    (2026)
    Juan E. Blümel
    ;
    María S. Vallejo
    ;
    Peter Chedraui
    ;
    Eugenio Arteaga
    ;
    Félix Ayala
    Objective: Hot flashes are among the most common symptoms of the menopausal transition and have traditionally been considered benign and self-limiting. However, increasing evidence suggests that they may indicate broader neurovascular and inflammatory dysregulation linked to reproductive aging. The possible effect of hot flush severity on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) remains inadequately studied, particularly in Latin American populations. This study aimed to examine the association between hot flash severity and HRQoL in middle-aged women using validated tools and a large, multicenter sample. Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted between June 2024 and January 2025 in 30 healthcare centers across 12 Latin American countries. A total of 3523 women aged 40–60 years were assessed using the Menopause Rating Scale (MRS) to evaluate vasomotor symptoms and the Short Form-36 Health Survey (SF-36) to measure HRQoL. Multivariable logistic regression models were utilized to estimate the association between hot flush severity and low HRQoL, adjusting for sociodemographic, behavioral and clinical covariates. Results: Increasing severity of hot flushes was significantly associated with lower HRQoL scores across all SF-36 domains. In the logistic regression analysis, mild hot flushes (MRS item 1 score = 1) were associated with increased odds of impaired HRQoL (odds ratio [OR] 1.29; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.08–1.55), whereas very severe symptoms (MRS item 1 score = 4) demonstrated a substantially stronger association (OR 4.10; 95% CI: 2.93–5.74). Additional factors significantly associated with lower HRQoL included physical inactivity, the presence of comorbidities, obesity, current use of psychotropic medication, age ≥50 years and having two or more children. Conclusion: Hot flush severity is a strong and independent determinant of HRQoL in midlife women. These findings underscore the need for systematic assessment and targeted management of vasomotor symptoms in routine care, supporting the hypothesis that hot flashes may be a clinical marker of systemic aging. © 2026 International Menopause Society.
      14
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    Item type:Publication,
    Physical activity as an alternative or adjunct to menopausal hormone therapy for symptom management in women with primary ovarian insufficiency
    (2026)
    Félix Ayala
    ;
    Juan E. Blümel
    ;
    María S. Vallejo
    ;
    Peter Chedraui
    ;
    Hugo Gutiérrez-Crespo
    Background: Physical activity alleviates menopausal symptoms in women whose menopause occurs after the age of 45; however, its effect in primary ovarian insufficiency, which occurs before the age of 40, remains unknown. Objective: To examine the association between physical activity, menopausal symptoms, and the use of menopausal hormone therapy in women with primary ovarian insufficiency. Methods: We analysed data from 4708 participants from two studies conducted in 12 Latin American countries. After applying eligibility criteria, 564 women with primary ovarian insufficiency (351 idiopathic and 213 surgical) were included. Menopausal symptoms were assessed using a validated scale, and severe symptoms were defined according to established cut-offs. Physical activity was classified according to international recommendations for moderate-intensity activity. Logistic regression models were adjusted for sociodemographic, clinical, and lifestyle variables. Results: The prevalence of severe menopausal symptoms was 39.2%, with no significant difference between idiopathic and surgical primary ovarian insufficiency. Women with severe symptoms were less likely to meet recommended levels of physical activity or to be current users of menopausal hormone therapy. In adjusted models, regular physical activity (OR 0.65; 95% CI 0.45–0.94) and current use of menopausal hormone therapy (OR 0.27; 0.17–0.42) were associated with a lower likelihood of severe symptoms, whereas obesity and use of psychotropic medication were associated with a higher likelihood. Conclusions: Women with primary ovarian insufficiency who engage in regular physical activity or currently use menopausal hormone therapy report less severe menopausal symptoms. Regular exercise may be an important non-hormonal option for women who cannot or prefer not to use hormone therapy. © 2026 Elsevier B.V.
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