Multidimensional health evaluation in mid-aged women: cross-sectional study protocol for a future-implementable...

To conduct a comprehensive assessment of physical, functional, emotional, cognitive, nutritional, metabolic, and sexual health in mid-aged women.

This cross-sectional study was conducted at the Universidad Espíritu Santo Clinic (UEES Clinic), Ecuador, as part of a multidisciplinary integrated health initiative. Women aged 40-60 years were recruited through social media outreach by the UEES Research Center and Clinic between 1 October 2024 and 1 October 2025. Interested participants scheduled a clinical evaluation by telephone. Assessments included laboratory tests (complete blood count, FSH, estradiol, HDL-C, triglycerides, glucose, and thyroid hormones [T3, T4]); validated surveys: Menopause Rating Scale (MRS) for climacteric symptoms and quality of life; Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, 10-item version (CESD-10) for depressive mood; short Everyday Memory Questionnaire-Revised (EMQ-R) for cognition; and FSFI-6 for sexual function. Participants also underwent anthropometric measurements, body composition analysis, muscle strength testing, and dietary assessment.

This methods paper describes a multidisciplinary approach for the comprehensive health evaluation of mid-aged women. It enables early identification of factors affecting quality of life and provides a replicable framework relevant to both local and broader Latin American contexts, serving as a model for similar initiatives across the region.