International Menopause Study of Climate, Altitude, Temperature (IMS-CAT) and vasomotor symptoms in the United Arab Emirates

Objective: To examine the relationships between temperature, season (summer versus winter), lifestyle, health, mood, beliefs, and experience of hot flushes and night sweats (HFNS), amongst mid-aged women living in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Methods: The UAE climate is hyperarid, having a hot desert climate, with warm winters and hot summers. 372 peri- and post-menopausal women, aged from 45 to 55, from urban UAE regions were included. Data were collected during both summer and winter months. Participants completed questionnaires eliciting information about socio-demographics, HFNS (prevalence, frequency and problem-rating), health and lifestyle (body mass index; BMI, diet, exercise), mood (Women's Health Questionnaire) and menopause attributions and beliefs (Menopause Representations Questionnaire).

Results: 46.5% of women were currently experiencing HFNS, with an average weekly frequency of five and problem rating of 5.7/10. Seasonal variation in temperature was not associated with prevalence, frequency or problem rating. Hot flush prevalence was associated with poor health, life satisfaction, mood, employment, lower BMI and diet. Higher frequency was associated with higher BMI and more years since last period. HFNS were more problematic mainly for women who reported lower life satisfaction and held more negative beliefs about the menopause.

Conclusions: In this UAE study, temperature and seasonal temperature variation did not appear to influence HFNS reporting, but health, life satisfaction, BMI, beliefs and lifestyle factors partially explained women's experiences of menopausal symptoms. A qualitative study might provide further information about the meanings of HFNS and menopause amongst UAE women.