Clinical Humanistic and Economic Burden Menopause-Related Vasomotor Symptoms: A Targeted Literature Review
Author(s)
Catia C Proenca, PhD1, Elzbieta Olewinska, PhD2, Beata Smela3, Jenifer Sassarini, MBChB PhD MRCOG4, Rebecca Dunsmoor-Su, MD, MSCE, FACOG5.
1Alira Health, Basel, Switzerland, 2Clever-Access, Krakow, Poland, 3Clever-Access, Poland, 4NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, Glasgow, United Kingdom, 5Seattle Clinical Research Centre, Seattle, WA, USA.
1Alira Health, Basel, Switzerland, 2Clever-Access, Krakow, Poland, 3Clever-Access, Poland, 4NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, Glasgow, United Kingdom, 5Seattle Clinical Research Centre, Seattle, WA, USA.
OBJECTIVES: Menopause-related vasomotor symptoms (VMS) are common and disruptive. A targeted literature review (TLR) was conducted to characterize the burden of menopause. Here, we report the clinical, humanistic, and economic burden associated with VMS.
METHODS: English-language searches were conducted in Medline/Embase databases and grey literature for observational studies of women experiencing menopause-related VMS published from 2020-2025 in Canada, the USA (from 2023), and select European countries (abstracts from 2022).
RESULTS: Overall, 44 studies reported VMS burden. Ten of these reported health-related quality of life (HRQoL), suggesting that VMS have a detrimental effect on women's HRQoL. Mean menopause-specific quality of life (MENQOL) score in multinational studies ranged from 1.4 to 4.1 (scale: 0-6; higher score indicates greater burden). Several studies found that VMS severity was associated with more sleep and/or mood disturbances. VMS severity, along with concomitant sleep and/or mood symptoms, were associated with lower HRQoL and higher activity/work impairment. Major VMS-related direct costs include drug acquisition and physician/office visit costs. A multinational European study indicated that physician visits incurred the highest out-of-pocket monthly costs per patient, ranging from €1.4-81.1, although there were substantial between-country variations owing to differences in healthcare systems. Menopausal women experiencing sleep disturbances only, VMS only, or both were more likely to visit a physician than those with neither symptom (odds ratios: 1.35, 1.18, 1.26, respectively).
CONCLUSIONS: Menopause-related VMS have a substantial clinical and humanistic burden. VMS severity and concomitant sleep and/or mood symptoms are associated with decreased HRQoL and increased work and activity impairment. Healthcare resource utilization is higher in menopausal women with VMS. This TLR highlights the need for effective management of VMS associated with menopause.
METHODS: English-language searches were conducted in Medline/Embase databases and grey literature for observational studies of women experiencing menopause-related VMS published from 2020-2025 in Canada, the USA (from 2023), and select European countries (abstracts from 2022).
RESULTS: Overall, 44 studies reported VMS burden. Ten of these reported health-related quality of life (HRQoL), suggesting that VMS have a detrimental effect on women's HRQoL. Mean menopause-specific quality of life (MENQOL) score in multinational studies ranged from 1.4 to 4.1 (scale: 0-6; higher score indicates greater burden). Several studies found that VMS severity was associated with more sleep and/or mood disturbances. VMS severity, along with concomitant sleep and/or mood symptoms, were associated with lower HRQoL and higher activity/work impairment. Major VMS-related direct costs include drug acquisition and physician/office visit costs. A multinational European study indicated that physician visits incurred the highest out-of-pocket monthly costs per patient, ranging from €1.4-81.1, although there were substantial between-country variations owing to differences in healthcare systems. Menopausal women experiencing sleep disturbances only, VMS only, or both were more likely to visit a physician than those with neither symptom (odds ratios: 1.35, 1.18, 1.26, respectively).
CONCLUSIONS: Menopause-related VMS have a substantial clinical and humanistic burden. VMS severity and concomitant sleep and/or mood symptoms are associated with decreased HRQoL and increased work and activity impairment. Healthcare resource utilization is higher in menopausal women with VMS. This TLR highlights the need for effective management of VMS associated with menopause.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2025-11, ISPOR Europe 2025, Glasgow, Scotland
Value in Health, Volume 28, Issue S2
Code
RWD36
Topic
Clinical Outcomes, Patient-Centered Research, Real World Data & Information Systems
Disease
No Additional Disease & Conditions/Specialized Treatment Areas, Reproductive & Sexual Health