• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.87-98
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• 2011

Objectives: To evaluate the clinical use of Kupperman's Index, Menopausespecific quality of life questionnaire(MENQOL), Menopause Rating Scale(MRS) by comparison with the Subjective measures of hot flush. Methods: The participants were 107 women (45-60 yr) who were not currently on hormone therapy, and had reached hot flash scores of 10 or higher. The evaluating indexes of this trial are hot flush score, hot flush VAS, Hot flush consistence time, sweating VAS, Kupperman`s Index, Menopause-specific quality of life questionnaire (MENQOL), Menopause Rating Scale(MRS). Results: 1. The hot flush score, hot flush VAS, sweating VAS were significantly correlated with each other, but the Hot flush consistence time with no special relationship was found on Subjective measures of hot flush 2. The Kupperman's Index, Menopause-specific quality of life questionnaire (MENQOL) and Menopause Rating Scale(MRS) were significantly correlated with each other. 3. There was significant correlation between Subjective measures of hot flush and Menopause-specific quality of life questionnaire(MENQOL), Thus Menopausespecific quality of life questionnaire(MENQOL) is considered the most suitable on hot flush related research. Conclusions: There was significant correlation between Subjective measures of hot flush and Menopausal scale, thus the use of various indicators are needed for the assessment of climacteric symptoms.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.85-91
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• 2015

Objectives: Postmenopausal symptoms are subject to many factors. Recently, obesity has been suggested as a factor of hot flush. So this study aims to report the relationship between body composition and Menopause Rating Scale (MRS), The Menopause-specific Quality of Life Questionnaire (MENQOL) of postmenopausal women. Methods: We studied 42 climacteric women who had visited Kyung Hee University Hospital at Gangdong from April 2011 to July 2014. 42 women had filled out MRS, MENQOL, and they had taken body composition tests. Pearson correlation tests were conducted. (Correlation was statistically significant at the 0.05 level) Results: Correlation between psychological subscale of MENQOL and Waist-Hip Ratio (WHR) was statistically significant (pearson correlation coefficient=0.385; p-value=0.012). But other subscales of MRS and MENQOL were not statistically related with body composition. Conclusions: WHR could be an important factor of psychological health of menopausal women. So, abdominal fat reduction must be considered when curing menopausal symptoms. In connection with climacteric depression, well-designed studies would be necessary.

• Journal of Menopausal Medicine
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.188-195
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• 2018

Objectives: This study investigated the association between menopausal-specific quality of life (MENQOL) and breast cancer screening beliefs among Hong Kong Chinese menopausal and postmenopausal women. Methods: A cross-sectional study was employed to collect data. The questionnaire was distributed to a convenience sample of 218 women aged above 45. The outcome variables were breast cancer screening beliefs and breast examination. Multiple regression analyses were conducted to test the effect of 4 domains in MENQOL (vasomotor, psycho-social, physical, and sexual symptom) and the health behaviors on the 2 outcome variables. Results: This study found that the overall MENQOL scores (in particular psycho-social, and physical aspects) were significantly associated with positive attitudes toward health check-ups and better knowledge and perceptions in breast cancer. Regular exercise was also significantly related to breast examination. Conclusions: MENQOL (especially psycho-social and physical domain) and regular exercise are important factors associated with breast cancer screening beliefs. The results of this study illuminate health care professionals to develop primary health care strategies to improve the quality of life of mid-life women.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.114-125
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• 2011

Objectives: To understand relations general characteristics, lifestyle habits including smoking, alcohol habit, exercise, eating habit and menopausal symptoms measurement indicators during treatment for hot flush in menopausal women. Methods: The participants were 159 women (45~60 yr) who were not currently on hormone therapy, and had reached hot flash scores of 10 or higher. The evaluating indexes of this trial are hot flush score, hot flush visual analogue scale(VAS), Hot flush consistence time, sweating visual analogue scale(VAS), Menopause Rating Scale(MRS), Menopause-specific quality of life questionnaire(MENQOL), Kupperman's Index. Results: 1. When the participants divided according to body mass index(BMI), overweight group showed a high score in all indicators. Therefore, obesity can aggravate the symptoms of menopause. 2. When the participants divided according to drinking habits, Hot flush consistence time of non-alcohol group showed a statistically significant difference. However, the sample size is uneven. Additional studies will be needed. 3. When the participants divided according to eating habits, Hot flush consistence time of regular group showed a statistically significant difference. However, the sample size uneven. Additional studies will be needed. 4. When the participants was divided depending on whether exercise, non-exercise group showed a high score in all indicators. Thus, exercise will be able to improve menopausal symptoms. Conclusions: Improvement of obesity and exercise will be able to improve menopausal symptoms.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.223-231
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• 2017

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Soy isoflavones are expected to improve menopausal symptoms and osteoporosis in women. However, their efficacy is still inconclusive, and there was limited data for postmenopausal women in South Korea. We examined the effects of soy isoflavones on climacteric symptoms, bone biomarkers, and quality of life in Korean postmenopausal women. SUBJECTS/METHODS: A randomized, double-blind study design was used. Eighty-seven participants who had undergone natural menopause were randomly administered either 70 mg/day isoflavones (n = 43) or placebo (n = 41) for 12 weeks. We assessed the Kupperman index for climacteric symptoms and the menopause-specific quality of life (MENQOL) questionnaire for quality of the life. Biomarkers of bone metabolism were also measured in serum bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (BALP), osteocalcin (OC), N- and C-terminal cross-linking telopeptides of type Ι collagen (NTx, CTx), and urine-deoxypyridinolin (u-DPD). RESULTS: Scores of the Kupperman index were decreased in both the isoflavones group ($-7.0{\pm}15.8$, P = 0.0074) and placebo group ($-6.3{\pm}14.6$, P = 0.0064) during the intervention, but no significant difference was noted between the groups. Regarding the bone formation markers, the level of serum BALP increased by $6.3{\pm}4.1%$ (P = 0.004) and OC increased by $9.3{\pm}6.2%$ (P < 0.001), meanwhile those of the placebo were not changed. For the bone resorption markers, NTx, CTx, and u-DPD were not significantly different in either group. MENQOL was significant decreased in the isoflavone group ($-0.6{\pm}0.5$) and placebo group ($-0.6{\pm}0.4$), with a significant difference between groups (P = 0.0228). CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests that 70 mg isoflavones supplement has beneficial effects on bone formation markers; however, it showed no benefit compared to the placebo on climacteric symptoms or quality of life.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.215-230
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• 2006

Purpose : To evaluate the clinical use of the menopause-specific quality of life questionnaire(MENQOL) for scoring menopausal symptoms by comparison with the conventional Kupperman's index. Methods : A population sample of 66 women was randomly selected from the female patients(aged 45-55) who had visited two oriental medical clinic in Seoul or Woo-Shin-Hwang oriental hospital from 1st April to 15th May in 2006. They completed both the MENQOL and the Kupperman's index and were asked a few additional questions. Results : 1. A degree of the Climacteric symptoms were not significantly related to either an education level or an income level. 2. A comparison of the MENQOL with the Kupperman's index produced a high positive correlation. 3. 41 of subjects (62.1%) answered that the MENQOL was more efficient for explaining their symptoms than the Kupperman's index. 49 (74.2%) of subject thought that both questionnaires are equally not difficult to fill out and 44(66.7%) of subject found no difficult questions to answer in any of questionnaires. Conclusion : The MENQOL is a valuable modern tool for the assessment of climacteric symptoms in place of the Kupperman's index. The MENQOL was excellent in applicability. The MENQOL could serve as an adequate diagnostic instrument for climacteric symptoms.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.60-68
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• 2014

Background: Pattern identification is a unique diagnostic method of traditional Oriental medicine that has recently been the target of questionnaire-based research. Sasang (four-types) constitutional medicine (SCM) is a practice in traditional Korean medicine that seeks to promote objectivity in diagnostics. This paper attempts to illuminate the relationship between constitutions and the pathogenic factors of pattern identification through questionnaires completed by menopausal women about their symptoms. Methods: From March to October 2012, we examined 291 women from the general population, with ages ranging from 40 to 60 years, applying the Kupperman index, the Menopause-Specific Quality of Life Questionnaire (MENQOL), pattern identification based on the Diagnosis System of Oriental Medicine (DSOM), and SCM. We then analyzed the relationship between constitutional type and pathogenic factors. Results: No significant differences were found in the scores of either the Kupperman index or MENQOL questionnaire in relation to constitutional type. However, in a statistical analysis correlating the DSOM pathogenic factor scores (PFS) with the scores of the Kupperman index and MENQOL vasomotor subscale, heat showed a significant positive correlation with SoYang type (SY) and TaeEum type (TE), but not SoEum type (SE), while insufficiency of yin and insufficiency of yang, as well as blood deficiency, showed a significant positive correlation with the TE and SE types. Conclusion: The pathogenic factors in the menopausal symptoms of middle-aged women, specifically the prominent menopausal symptom of facial flushing, differed significantly according to constitutional type.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.1-19
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• 2023

Objectives: The purpose of this health promotion project for Korean medicine is to promote the health of climacteric women in Boeun-gun. Methods: During the project, pressure needle acupuncture treatment, herbal medicine treatment, meditation pore therapy, and health education were conducted. To evaluate the results, basic health surveys (body height, body composition test, blood pressure etc.), female hormone tests, Kupperman's index (KI), Menopause-specific quality of life questionnaire (MENQOL), and Perceived stress scales (PSS) were conducted. Results: No significant change was observed in the body composition test and blood pressure after the project. Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) was significantly increased after the project, but Luteinizing Hormone (LH) and total estrogen levels were not significantly changed. KI and MENQOL scores significantly decreased after the project, and significantly decreased in 4 out of 11 items of KI and 3 out of 4 domains of MEMQOL. No significant change was observed in the PSS score after the project. Conclusions: From the results of this project, it can be seen that the Korean medicine health promotion project can help alleviate symptoms of climacteric syndrome and postmenopausal syndrome.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.75-92
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• 2020

Objectives: This clinical trial is performed to investigate the effect of improving the menopausal symptoms and the safety of extract obtained from Pueraria thunbergiana Bentham and Curcuma longa L. in menopausal women Methods: This study was randomized, double blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial. 110 women with menopausal symptoms were assigned to treatment group (n=55) and control group (n=55). The results of this study were evaluated through changes in Kupperman Index score, Menopause-specific Quality of Life Questionnaire (MENQOL) score, degree of hot flashes and sweating, Body Mass Index(BMI), laboratory test results including female hormones. Results: In the treatment group compared to before baseline, there was significant difference in the Kupperman Index total score, score of each item in the Kupperman Index, MENQOL total score, hot flush and sweating visual analogue scale (VAS), hot flush score, and hot flush duration at one time. However, there was also a significant change compared to baseline in the control group, there was no significant difference between the treatment group and the control group. There was no significant change in female hormone levels in both group, and there were no adverse events associated with the clinical trial product. Conclusions: This clinical trial showed that extract obtained from Pueraria thunbergiana Bentham and Curcuma longa L. was helpful in improving menopausal symptoms in menopausal women without significant side effects.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.768-775
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• 2014

The purpose of this study was to analyze consumption patterns of health functional foods (HFF) according to climacteric symptoms. Subjects were 450 middle-aged women divided into four groups by Kupperman's index. This study collected all information by self-administrated questionnaires. Higher Kupperman's index was associated with higher Menopause-specific quality of life questionnaire (MENQOL) (P<0.001) and current smoker ratio (P<0.01) as well as lower monthly income (P<0.05). Exactly 28.4% of subjects showed negative responses to effectiveness of HFF. The average number of HFF intake per person was 2.01. The main reason for consumption of HFF was treatment or prevention of disease (33.6%). The information source for buying HFF was family or relatives (40.0%). The main types of HFF were vitamins (28.2%), omega-3 fatty acid (18.6%) and red ginseng (17.3%). The intake ratio of individual approval type (Cynanchum extract and Angeli extract) was significantly higher in subjects with high Kupperman's index (P<0.001). In conclusion, these results can be used as basic data that reflect middle-aged women's needs for HFF intake according to climacteric symptoms.