Brazilian Women's Health after 65 Years of Age

Abstract

Purpose The aim of this study was to evaluate the health aspects of Brazilian women older than 65 years of age.

Design This was a retrospective study that included 1,001 Brazilian women cared for in the gynecological geriatric outpatient office of our institution. We report a cross-sectional analysis of female adults aged over 65 years, including data on demographics, clinical symptoms such as vasomotor symptoms, associated morbidities, physical examination and sexual intercourse. We used the chi-squared test to assess the data.

Results The age of the patients on their first clinic visit ranged from 65 to 98 years, with a mean age of 68.56 ± 4.47 years; their mean age at the time of natural menopause was 48.76 ± 5.07 years. The most frequent clinical symptoms reported during the analyzed period were hot flashes (n = 188), followed by arthropathy, asthenia, and dry vagina. The most frequent associated morbidities after 65 years of age were systemic arterial hypertension, gastrointestinal disturbance, diabetes mellitus, and depression, among others. The assessment of the body mass index (BMI) found decreases in BMI with increased age. At the time of the visit, 78 patients reported sexual intercourse. The majority of women reporting sexual intercourse (89.75%, n =  70) were between 65 and 69 years of age, 8.97% (n = 7) were between 70 and 74 years of age, and only 1.28% (n = 1) of those were aged older than 75 years.

Conclusions Our findings suggested that vasomotor symptoms can persist after 65 years of age. There was a significant decrease in sexual intercourse with increased age. The cardiovascular disturbances in our study are health concerns in these women.

Resumo

Objetivo Avaliar os aspectos de saúde das mulheres brasileiras após os 65 anos de idade.

Métodos O estudo foi retrospectivo, e incluiu 1.001 mulheres brasileiras atendidas no ambulatório de ginecologia geriátrica de nossa instituição. Foi feita uma análise transversal de mulheres com idade acima de 65 anos, incluindo dados demográficos, sintomas clínicos (sintomas vasomotores), morbidades associadas, bem como alterações no exame físico e queixas em relação à atividade sexual. Utilizamos o teste qui-quadrado para avaliar os dados.

Resultados A idade das pacientes na primeira visita clínica variou de 65 a 98 anos, com média etária de 68,56 ± 4,47 anos. A média etária de entrada na menopausa foi de 48,76 ± 5,07 anos. Os sintomas clínicos mais frequentes relatados durante o período analisado foram os sintomas vasomotores (n = 188), seguidos de artropatia, astenia e vagina seca. As morbidades associadas mais frequentes após os 65 anos foram hipertensão arterial sistêmica, distúrbios gastrintestinais, diabete melito e depressão, entre outras. A avaliação do índice de massa corporal (IMC) mostrou redução deste parâmetro antropométrico com o progredir da idade. No momento da visita, 78 pacientes relataram ter relações sexuais. A maioria das mulheres que relatou ter relações sexuais (89,75%, n =  70) estava entre 65 e 69 anos, 8,97% (n = 7) tinham entre 70 e 74 anos, e apenas 1,28% (n =  1) eram mais velhas do que 75 anos de idade.

Conclusões Nossos achados sugerem que os sintomas vasomotores podem persistir após os 65 anos. Houve uma diminuição significativa na relação sexual com o aumento da idade. Os distúrbios cardiovasculares em nosso estudo são preocupações de saúde nestas mulheres.

Keywords

aging - menopause - vasomotor symptoms - body mass index - sexual intercourse

Palavras-chave

envelhecimento - menopausa - sintomas vasomotores - índice de massa corporal - atividade sexual

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