Effect of Menopausal Hormonal Changes on Nasal Mucociliary Clearance

To investigate the impact of menopause-related hormonal changes on nasal mucociliary clearance time and its correlation with sex hormone levels and body mass index.

Cross-sectional observational study.

Tertiary university hospital otolaryngology outpatient clinic.

Fifty women were enrolled, including 25 postmenopausal and 25 premenopausal participants. Nasal mucociliary clearance time was measured using the saccharin test. Serum follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, estradiol levels, body mass index, and age were recorded. Statistical analyses included Mann-Whitney U tests, Spearman correlations, partial correlations, stepwise regression, and ROC curve analysis.

Postmenopausal women had significantly longer nasal mucociliary clearance time compared to premenopausal women (18.56 ± 3.56 vs 11.76 ± 2.63 min, P < .0001). Nasal mucociliary clearance time positively correlated with follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone, and negatively with estradiol. Body mass index was higher in postmenopausal women and moderately correlated with nasal mucociliary clearance time (P = .0012), though this association lost significance when adjusted for age. Stepwise regression identified follicle-stimulating hormone as the strongest independent predictor of nasal mucociliary clearance time (R²= 0.549, P < .001). ROC analysis showed follicle-stimulating hormone and tradiol had strong predictive value for prolonged NMCT (AUCs: 0.84 and 0.83, respectively).

Menopause-associated hormonal changes-particularly elevated follicle-stimulating hormone and reduced estradiol-are linked to impaired nasal mucociliary function. Clinicians should consider hormonal status in postmenopausal women presenting with nasal complaints. Future studies should explore therapeutic interventions such as hormone replacement therapy to mitigate mucociliary dysfunction.