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Persistent Postmenopausal Hot Flushes
Clinically significant hot flushes afflict roughly 10% of postmenopausal women and often persist for more than 3 years, according to a study in Archives of Internal Medicine.
Researchers evaluated nearly 3200 postmenopausal women (mean age, 67), about 12% of whom reported experiencing "bothersome" flushing symptoms at least some of the time during the previous 6 months. At reassessment 3 years later, bothersome symptoms persisted in about half of the women. Persistence was independently associated with difficulty sleeping and recency of menopause, but not with other factors, such as body mass index and follicle-stimulating hormone levels.
The authors conclude that "a substantial minority" of older postmenopausal women present with hot flushes, half of whom can be expected to have persistent symptoms after 3 years.
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Archives of Internal Medicine article (Free abstract; full text requires subscription)
Published in Physician's First Watch April 30, 2008
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