Hot flushes among aging women: A 4-year follow-up study to a randomised controlled exercise trial

Abstract

Objectives The aim of this follow-up study was to explore the long-term effects of a 6-month trial of exercise training on hot flushes. The follow-up was 4 years after the exercise intervention ended. Study design A cohort study after a randomised controlled trial. Ninety-five of the 159 randomised women (60%) participated in anthropometric measurements and performed a 2-km walk test. Participants completed a questionnaire and kept a one-week diary on physical activity, menopause symptoms and sleep quality. The frequency of 24-h hot flushes was multiplied by severity and the total sum for one week was defined as the Hot Flush Score (HFScore). Multilevel mixed regression models were analysed to compare the exercise and control groups. Main outcome measure Hot Flush Score (HFScore) as assessed with the one-week symptom diary. Results The women in the exercise group had a higher probability of improved HFScore, i.e. a decrease in HFScore points, adjusted for hormone therapy (OR 0.95; 95% CI 0.90-1.00) than women in the control group at the 4-year follow-up. After additional adjustment for sleep quality, the result approached statistical significance at HFScore ≥ 13 with women in the exercise group. Women who had the least amount of hot flushes, HFScore < 13, benefited most from exercise during the 4-year follow-up when compared with women in the control group. Conclusions Women in the exercise group had positive effects on their HFScore 4 years after a 6-month exercise intervention.