Association between menopausal status and physical function: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Endocrinology
• Gerontology
• Physical Therapy

Background:

• Menopause is a significant biological transition in women's lives.
• Physical function changes are often associated with aging and hormonal shifts.
• Understanding the impact of menopausal status on physical function is crucial for women's health.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and meta-analyze the association between menopausal status and physical function.
• To synthesize evidence from observational studies on this relationship.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review and meta-analysis following PRISMA guidelines.
• Searches conducted across major scientific databases (PubMed, Cochrane Library, SciELO, LILACS, Web of Science).
• Meta-analysis performed using RevMan 5 software on data from 26 observational studies.

Main Results:

• 80.8% of included studies found significant associations between menopausal status and physical function.
• Premenopausal and perimenopausal women demonstrated stronger handgrip strength compared to postmenopausal women (unadjusted and adjusted analyses).
• Premenopausal women also showed better performance in strength, balance, and self-reported physical function tests than postmenopausal women.

Conclusions:

• The menopausal transition is a critical period associated with a decline in physical function.
• Healthcare strategies should be implemented to support women's physical health during this phase.
• Further research on interventions to mitigate physical decline during menopause is warranted.