Correlation of the Severity of Physical and Psychological Symptoms and Severity of Insomnia in Postmenopausal Women

Abstract

Background: Menopause is associated with physical and psychological as well as sleep problems that cause disruption in quality of life in women. Objectives: The question of whether the severity of physical and psychological symptoms correlated with the severity of insomnia in postmenopausal women is investigated in this study. Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed on 214 postmenopausal women referred to health centers in Kermanshah city between May 2019 and May 2020. Data collection tools included demographic and social characteristics questionnaires, Menopausal Rating Scale (MRS) and Insomnia Severity Index (ISI). Data were analyzed using ANOVA and Pearson correlation test using SPSS software. Results: The mean total score of insomnia severity was 14.3 ± 5. Also, according to the severity of insomnia, 22 women had no insomnia, but 88 and 87 women had mild and moderate insomnia and 17 women had severe insomnia, respectively. Comparing the mean scores of 11 MRS items in different insomnia severities showed a significant difference in the rate of symptoms, so that in the physical domain, hot flashes and sleep problems, and in the psychological domain, depression items, irritability, anxiety, poor memory and lack of concentration were higher in the sever insomnia, but none of the items of the genitourinary domain were associated with the severity of insomnia. Conclusions: Our study showed that in postmenopausal women, the rate of physical and psychological symptoms increases with higher severity of insomnia. Insomnia should be considered as a disorder that requires special attention and treatment in postmenopausal women.