Sleep disorders and menopausal symptoms: a Latin American perspective on postmenopausal health
Journal
Climacteric
ISSN
1369-7137
1473-0804
Date Issued
2025
Author(s)
Eugenio E. Arteaga
Juan E. Blümel
María S. Vallejo
Carlos Salinas
Konstantinos Tserotas
Maribel Dextre
Alejandra Elizalde
María T. Espinoza
Carlos Escalante
Gustavo Gómez-Tabares
Alejandra Martínez-García
Álvaro Monterrosa-Castro
Mónica Ñañez
Eliana Ojeda
Doris Rodríguez-Vidal
Marcio A. Rodrígues
Type
journal-article
Abstract
Objective: This cross-sectional, observational study, conducted in nine Latin American countries, aimed to examine the association between hot flashes and insomnia, and whether the severity of vasomotor symptoms (VMS) correlates with sleep disturbances. Method: The study collected sociodemographic and clinical data, and evaluated the presence of sleep disorders using Jenkin’s Sleep Scale (JSS-4) and menopausal symptoms using the Menopause Rating Scale (MRS) questionnaire. Results: The study included 1185 postmenopausal women with average age 56.9 ± 5.7 years, body mass index (BMI) of 26.5 ± 5.2 kg/m² and 8.6 ± 6.4 years since menopause. Overall, 20.6% reported sleep disturbances. Compared to those without sleep problems, affected women had longer postmenopausal duration (12 ± 9.0 vs. 10.8 ± 7.8, p < 0.03), had higher BMI (27.9 ± 5.6 vs. 26.1 ± 5.0, p < 0.001), were more often smokers and homemakers, and had more comorbidities. They were also less likely to have a partner or have used menopausal hormone therapy. Sleep disturbances increased proportionally with VMS severity (p < 0.01). In multivariate analysis, sleep disorders were associated with VMS (odds ratio [OR] 4.47), psychotropic use (OR 1.84), obesity (OR 1.45) and comorbidities (OR 1.45). Conclusion: Women with VMS were more likely to experience sleep disorders and this effect was proportional to the magnitude of the hot flashes. The study also presents several factors associated with sleep disorders in postmenopausal women that should be considered to help prevent these disturbances. © 2025 International Menopause Society.