Review of menopausal palpitations measures

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Medicine
• Cardiovascular Health
• Psychometrics

Background:

• Palpitations are frequently reported by women during menopause, often described as skipped or pounding heartbeats.
• Despite prevalence, menopausal palpitations are less studied than other menopause symptoms like hot flashes.
• Understanding and accurately measuring menopausal palpitations is crucial for women's health.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and integrate existing evidence on measurement tools for menopausal palpitations.
• To identify inconsistencies and limitations in current methods used to assess this symptom.
• To provide a foundation for developing improved measurement strategies.

Main Methods:

• Comprehensive literature search conducted in PubMed, CINAHL, and PsycINFO.
• Inclusion of English-language descriptive articles with data on menopause and palpitations.
• Systematic review of 110 selected articles from an initial pool of 670.

Main Results:

• Eleven distinct measurement tools were identified across the reviewed articles.
• Significant variability was observed within and between these measurement tools.
• Inconsistencies were noted in item wording, recall periods, and response options, even in standardized measures.
• Most existing measures primarily assess symptom presence and severity, lacking nuanced detail.

Conclusions:

• There is a critical need to standardize the conceptual and operational definitions of menopausal palpitations.
• Development of a new, patient-centered measure that is conceptually clear and psychometrically sound is recommended.
• Improved measurement will enhance research accuracy and clinical management of menopausal palpitations.