Hot flashes and night sweats, collectively known as vasomotor symptoms, are common in midlife women, affecting nearly 70% of this group. Severe symptoms can have a negative impact on daily life. A new study suggests that certain factors in early adulthood, such as Black adults, people with lower education, smokers, and those with a history of migraine or depression, may increase the risk of vasomotor symptoms later in life. Identifying these factors early on could help reduce the risk of developing these symptoms. Another study by the same research group found that women with a history of both migraine and persistent vasomotor symptoms after the age of 40 were at a higher risk of cardiovascular events. This combined history could indicate a population that would benefit from more aggressive cardiovascular risk management.
While vasomotor symptoms are prevalent in midlife women, the risk factors for these symptoms are not well understood. In addition to impacting quality of life, research has shown that these symptoms are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. The study by the researchers examined the impact of socioeconomic factors, history of depression or migraine, and the combined presence of migraine and vasomotor symptoms in increasing the likelihood of developing vasomotor symptoms and cardiovascular events. The findings suggest that these factors may play a role in determining the risk of developing vasomotor symptoms and subsequent cardiovascular events.
The study included more than 1,900 women enrolled in the CARDIA study, which tracks factors in young adulthood that may increase the risk of cardiovascular disease later in life. Participants were assessed for cardiovascular risk factors every five years. The participants were categorized based on the presence and severity of vasomotor symptoms, with symptoms collected every five years. The analysis revealed that women with a history of both migraine and persistent vasomotor symptoms had a higher risk of cardiovascular events. Lifestyle changes such as smoking cessation could help reduce the overall risk of cardiac events associated with these symptoms.
The researchers also identified risk factors for persistent vasomotor symptoms, such as being Black, smoking, having low education, history of migraine or depression, and a hysterectomy. Black adults and those with lower body mass index were associated with increasing vasomotor symptoms with age. Women with persistent bothersome symptoms shared similar risk factors as those with persistent symptoms. In addition, an association between bothersome symptoms and thyroid disease was found. Screening and managing thyroid disease could potentially reduce the risk of vasomotor symptoms later in life. The strengths of the studies included their prospective design and accounting for various variables that could affect the analysis.
While the studies did not establish causation, they provided important insights into the risk factors for vasomotor symptoms and their impact on cardiovascular events. By identifying these factors in early adulthood, interventions can be implemented to reduce the risk of developing vasomotor symptoms and subsequent cardiovascular events. Further research is needed to confirm these findings and explore potential interventions to improve the health outcomes of this population.
