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Objectives: It has been hypothesised that vasomotor symptoms (VMS), the hallmark of menopause, may affect women's workplace performance. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between VMS and self-reported work ability, taking into account socio-demographic characteristics. Study design/Main Outcome measures: A national cross-sectional survey of women, aged 40-65 years, was conducted between October 2013 and March 2014. Participants provided socio-demographic and lifestyle factors and completed the Menopause Specific Quality of Life Questionnaire (MENQOL) and the Work Ability Index (WAI).Results: Of 2020 women who comprised the study sample, 1274 were in paid employment and 1263 completed the WAI. The WAI score was good-excellent for 81.5% of women and poor-moderate for 18.5%. After adjustment for socio-demographic characteristics, having any VMS was associated with greater likelihood of poor-moderate work ability [odds ratio (OR)=2.45, 95% CI 1.69-3.54]. Poorer work ability was significantly and independently associated with being un-partnered, obese or overweight, smoking, being carer and having insecure housing finance, but not with age.Conclusions: Overall, most women functioned well at work. We observed an association suggesting a relationship not only between menopausal VMS and personal wellbeing, but also between VMS and self-assessed work ability. Although 4 in 5 women functioned well at work, recognition of the association with VMS may improve wellbeing and work performance of working women at midlife. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives The extent to which menopause influences wellbeing is unclear. We investigated the association between moderate-severely bothersome vasomotor symptoms (VMS) and psychological general wellbeing in women, aged 40–65 years, taking into account socio-demographic and lifestyle factors. Study design/Main outcome measures This was a cross-sectional survey of 2020 Australian women, aged 40–65 years, recruited from the community between July 2013 and March 2014. Wellbeing was assessed by the Psychological and General Wellbeing questionnaire (PGWB) and VMS by the Menopause-specific Quality of Life Questionnaire. Results Moderate-severely bothersome VMS had a strong significant negative association with psychological general wellbeing [regression coefficient ( β ) = −8.17, 95% confidence interval (CI) −10.90 to −5.45]. Socio-demographic factors associated with lower wellbeing included being un-partnered ( β = −2.80, 95% CI −4.74 to −0.86), obese ( β = −5.46, 95% CI −7.24 to −3.68) and a smoker ( β = −3.47, 95% CI −6.10 to −0.84). Older age ( β = 0.29, 95% CI 0.06–0.42) and participation in paid and/or volunteer work ( β = 2.72, 95% CI 0.61–4.82) were positively associated with wellbeing. For those with insecure housing, being a carer was associated with better wellbeing. Conclusions Moderate-severely bothersome VMS are significantly and independently negatively associated with psychological general wellbeing in women at midlife. This is an important consideration when assessing psychological wellbeing in women during this life phase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]