Menopause-related symptoms linked to billions of dollars in medical bills and lost work days, study suggests

CNN
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Menopause-related symptoms, such as hot flashes, night sweats, and sleep disturbances, can add up to billions of dollars in medical bills and lost productivity in the workplace. according to a study published Wednesday in the journal Mayo Clinic Proceedings.

The researchers surveyed about 5,000 women ages 45 to 60 who are primary care patients at the Mayo Clinic; 4,440 of the women were employed at the time of the study.

“13% of the women we surveyed experienced an adverse work outcome related to menopausal symptoms, and about 11% missed days of work due to these symptoms,” said Dr. Stephanie Faubion, study lead author and director from Mayo Clinic. Women’s Health, in a press release.

The survey, conducted in 2021, assessed women’s symptoms using the Menopause Rating Scale (MRS).

The researchers found that the mean overall MRS score was 12.1, indicating a “moderate burden of menopausal symptoms.”

“Symptoms of menopause pose challenges in the workplace that can manifest as higher levels of lost work productivity (presenteeism), missed work days (absenteeism), and increased numbers of outpatient medical visits,” the researchers wrote in the journal. study.

Using data from the 2020 US Census to identify the number of women between the ages of 45 and 60 in the United States, researchers estimate the annual cost of lost work days to be $1.6 billion. and that nearly $25 billion in medical costs can be attributed to menopause.

“This estimate does not include costs related to reduced work hours or job loss, early retirement or changing jobs,” the study said.

Study limitations include that most participants were white (93%), married (76.5%), and college-educated (59.3%).

Some racial and ethnic differences were noted, but more research is needed, according to Faubion.

“Doctors should ask women about menopausal symptoms and offer guidance and treatment, and employers should create and implement workplace strategies and policies to help women navigate this universal life transition,” she said. Faubion.

Menopause typically happens to women between the ages of 45 and 55, when their ovaries stop producing estrogen and progesterone, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.