Investigation of the relationship between hot flashes, sweating and sleep quality in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women: the mediating effect of anxiety and depression

Background To investigate the relationship between sweating from hot flashes, anxiety, depression, and sleep quality in peri- and postmenopausal women. And also the role of anxiety and depression in mediating sweating from hot flashes and sleep quality. Methods 467 women aged 40-60 years with menopausal problems were enrolled. The sleep quality; hot flashes; sweating; anxiety and depression symptoms were quantitatively evaluated by Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Scale (PSQI), Kupperman Menopause Index, Self-rating Anxiety Scale and Self-rating Depression Scale. Spearman correlation analysis and mediating effect model were used to analyze the relationship between the three. Results 262 patients' PSQI score were higher than 6 (58.2%). Total scores of sleep quality were positively correlated with hot flashes, sweating and anxiety and depression symptoms. Anxiety and depression played a mediating role between hot flashes, sweating and sleep quality where the mediating effect of anxiety symptoms accounted for 17.86% (P < 0.01) and depression symptoms accounted for 5.36% (P < 0.01). Conclusions The hot flashes, sweating, anxiety and depression of peri/postmenopausal women are risk factors affecting sleep quality. By alleviating these risk factors, the sleep quality of peri- and postmenopausal women could be improved, which prevents the physical and mental diseases due to long-term severe insomnia.

Automated summary

The study found that hot flashes, sweating, anxiety, and depression in peri- and postmenopausal women are risk factors affecting sleep quality. Anxiety and depression played a mediating role between hot flashes, sweating, and sleep quality, with anxiety symptoms accounting for 17.86% (P < 0.01) and depression symptoms accounting for 5.36% (P < 0.01) of the mediating effect. By alleviating these risk factors, the sleep quality of peri- and postmenopausal women could be improved, preventing physical and mental diseases associated with long-term severe insomnia.