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A groundbreaking study published in Menopause has provided a comprehensive overview of the most prevalent health conditions diagnosed among women in the critical midlife transition, specifically in the U.S. Upper Midwest. Researchers found that between the ages of 40 and 59, eight health conditions increased by 45% or more, with several conditions being more prominent in Black women and those living in socioeconomically disadvantaged neighborhoods.
The study’s first author, Dr. Jennifer St. Sauver, a professor of epidemiology at Mayo Clinic, highlights a significant gap in understanding women’s health during midlife. While many studies combine data from men and women, Dr. St. Sauver emphasizes the importance of examining them separately to fully understand the differences in how they age.
“Most studies examine men and women together. However, we know that men and women age differently, so it’s important to do separate studies to understand these differences,” she explains.
The research sheds light on an alarming rise in common health conditions such as hypertension and high cholesterol, which have long been recognized to increase during midlife in both men and women. However, the study also revealed an unexpected surge in disorders like sleep disturbances, acid reflux, and joint and muscle pain among midlife women.
The eight most common and rapidly increasing conditions identified in the study include:
- Disorders of lipid metabolism (high cholesterol)
- Hypertension (high blood pressure)
- Sleep/wake disorders
- Thyroid disorders
- Esophageal disorders (notably acid reflux)
- Osteoarthritis (joint wear and tear)
- Tendon and synovial disorders (problems with joints and connective tissues)
- Menopausal disorders (particularly hot flashes)
Dr. St. Sauver points out that Black women were more likely to experience high blood pressure and esophageal disorders, including acid reflux, than their white counterparts. Women from socioeconomically deprived neighborhoods showed a higher prevalence of high cholesterol, hypertension, sleep disorders, and acid reflux.
“Our data provide a comprehensive picture of the most common conditions coming to medical attention in midlife women,” said Dr. Stephanie Faubion, co-author and women’s health researcher at Mayo Clinic. “They suggest that additional attention should be focused on Black women and women with lower socioeconomic status to ensure that common midlife conditions are identified and addressed.”
The findings also stress the need for more research to understand the biological changes women undergo during midlife and how these changes contribute to the development of various health conditions. Such research could potentially lead to treatments that address multiple conditions simultaneously.
This study utilized data from the Rochester Epidemiology Project in Minnesota, analyzing medical records of approximately 1.4 million individuals in the Upper Midwest. The research focused on 86,946 women between the ages of 40 and 59, with data from electronic health records spanning from 2016 to 2019.
The study’s conclusions underscore the importance of addressing the health needs of midlife women, particularly those from marginalized communities, to ensure timely diagnosis and treatment of common health issues during the menopause transition.
For more information on the study, visit Menopause journal or reference the article: “Health care concerns in women at midlife: differences by race, ethnicity, and neighborhood socioeconomic status” (DOI: 10.1097/GME.0000000000002468).
