Predictors of declining self-rated health during the transition to menopause

Objective: To determine factors associated with declining self-rated health as measured annually for 8 years in a prospective population-based cohort of middle-aged Australian-born women. In particular, to investigate the potential role of the menopausal transition in changing self-rated health. Methods: A total of 262 women from the Melbourne Women's Midlife Health Project were asked to rate their present health compared with other women about the same age as worse than, the same as or better than most. Results: Women reporting their health to be “better than most” decreased from 51.2% at Year 1 to 41.3% at Year 8. In the year prior to the late menopausal transition, women reporting their health to be ‘better than most’ declined by 5%. Comparing women who experienced the menopausal transition with women whose menopausal status did not change, there was no significant difference in changes in self-rated health. Change in body mass index (OR=1.53; 95% CI=1.13 to 2.06) and change in feelings for partner (OR=0.38; 95% CI=0.17 to 0.86) predicted a change in self-rated health from a baseline status of ‘better than most.’ Having an operation or procedure in the last year (OR=8.63; 95% CI=1.84 to 40.4) and an increase in the number of symptoms (OR=1.32; 95% CI=1.01 to 1.72) predicted a decline in self-rated health from baseline status of ‘same as others.’ Conclusion: This prospective study found a small decline in self-rated health with age but no significant effect of the menopausal transition. Different factors relate to differing self-rated health groupings. Further studies involving other ethnic groups and larger sample sizes are needed.