Quality of life and associated factors in climacteric women surviving gynecological cancer: an observational study
Objective:
To identify factors associated with climacteric symptoms and quality of life in women with and without a history of gynecological cancer.
Methods:
A cross-sectional study was conducted from November 2022 to May 2024 in a tertiary hospital’s menopause clinic in Campinas, Brazil. Women aged 30 years or above with climacteric symptoms were included, excluding those undergoing treatment for these symptoms or with debilitating conditions. Climacteric symptoms were assessed using the Menopause Rating Scale (MRS), and quality of life by the Women’s Health Questionnaire (WHQ). Statistical analyses included descriptive tests, χ 2 , Mann-Whitney, and Poisson regression ( P <0.05).
Results:
A total of 184 women (mean age 49.6±9.5 y) were included, of whom 54.3% had a history of cancer (29.3% breast, 14.1% cervical, 7.6% ovarian, 2.7% endometrial, 0.5% vulvar). The mean age at menopause was 44.2±6.7 years; 58.5% had treatment-induced menopause. Median MRS and WHQ scores were 27 and 0.58, respectively. No association was found between a history of cancer and overall symptom severity or reduced quality of life. In multivariate analysis, worse quality of life was independently associated with higher severity of somatovegetative symptoms (PR: 2.10; 95% CI: 1.16-3.79) and psychological symptoms (PR: 1.90; 95% CI: 1.07-3.36).
Conclusion:
A history of gynecological cancer was not associated with increased climacteric symptoms or poorer quality of life. Menopausal symptoms, especially vasomotor and psychological domains, were the main factors related to lower quality of life.