Quality of life among postmenopausal women enrolled in the Minnesota Green Tea Trial

Background Postmenopausal symptomatology has not been elucidated in large, long-term human clinical trials. Our objective was to measure quality of life in postmenopausal women aged 50–70 years. Methods A Menopause-Specific Quality of Life-Intervention (MENQOL) questionnaire was completed by women enrolled in the Minnesota Green Tea Trial (n = 932) to assess vasomotor, physical, sexual, and psychosocial symptoms in the years following menopause. Responses were coded; mean overall and domain scores ranged from 1 to 8. A higher score indicated more severe symptoms. Results Mean overall MENQOL scores were highest in women aged 50–54.9 years. A pattern of reduced symptom severity with increasing age was observed overall and within each domain. Women aged 50–54.9 years had more severe night sweats and sweating than other age groups (P ≤ 0.001) and more severe hot flashes than women aged ≥ 60 years (P ≪ 0.001). No differences between age groups were seen on mean score in the Sexual domain. Compared with women aged 50.0–54.9 years (the reference group), study participants aged 60–64.9 and ≥ 65 years had lower MENQOL scores in the Psychosocial domain (P = 0.029 and P ≪ 0.001). Women aged 50–54.9 years had more severe symptoms related to negative mood than women ≥65 years (P ≤ 0.009). Compared with women aged 50–54.9 years, those in the age groups 60–64.9 and ≥ 65 years had lower scores for “poor memory” (2.98 ± 1.75 and 2.66 ± 1.68 vs. 3.43 ± 1.87, P ≪ 0.001). Women ≥ 65 years reported lower scores for “feeling tired or worn out”, “difficulty sleeping”, and “lack of energy” than all other age groups (P ≤ 0.003). Conclusion The findings of this descriptive analysis of postmenopausal women may help clinicians counsel women about expectations and treatment options to address menopause-associated symptoms and the relationship between postmenopausal symptoms and overall health.