Publications by authors named "Maria S Vallejo"
Objective: To evaluate the association between type of menopause (spontaneous or surgical) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI).
Study Design: This study was a cross-sectional, observational, and sub-analytical investigation conducted within gynecological consultations across nine Latin American countries.
Method: We assessed sociodemographic, clinical, and anthropometric data, family history of dementia, and the presence of MCI using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) tool.
Objective: To evaluate the association between menopausal symptoms and cognitive decline in postmenopausal women.
Methods: This was a subanalysis of a cross-sectional, observational study conducted among women attending gynecological consultations across nine Latin American countries. The survey involved late postmenopausal women who were asked to complete a general questionnaire and the Menopause Rating Scale (MRS) to assess menopausal symptoms, with the Montreal Cognitive Assessment used to evaluate cognitive function as an outcome.
Objective: Musculoskeletal disorders frequently affect postmenopausal women. This study aims to compare muscle disorders between women according to the type of experienced menopause: premature (PM) or normal age of menopause (NAM).
Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted in nine Latin American countries in which late postmenopausal women (55 to 70 years) were surveyed with a general questionnaire, the Menopause Rating Scale (MRS: item #4 exploring musculoskeletal discomfort), and strength, assistance with walking, rising from a chair, climbing stairs, and falling questionnaire (risk of sarcopenia).
Objective: To study sociodemographic and clinical factors associated with the long-COVID-19 syndrome among women living in Latin American countries using undirected and directed methods.
Method: We studied 347 patients with COVID-19 (confirmed by polymerase chain reaction) living in nine Latin American countries between May 2021 and July 2022, including 70 premenopausal, 48 perimenopausal, and 229 postmenopausal women. We compared the sociodemographic and general health information of women with (n = 164) and without (n = 183) the long-COVID-19 syndrome.
Objective: The aim of this study was to assess resilience, fear of COVID-19, sleep disorders, and menopause-related symptoms after the acute phase of COVID-19 in middle-aged women with positive reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and noninfected women.
Methods: This is a cross-sectional, analytical study of climacteric women from 9 Latin American countries, aged 40-64 years, attending a routine health checkup. We evaluated clinical characteristics and used the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale, the Fear of COVID-19 Scale, the Jenkins Sleep Scale, and the Menopause Rating Scale to evaluate their health.
Objective: The aim of this study was to measure the impact of different risk factors in middle-aged women on longevity evaluated after three decades of an initial health screening.
Methods: Women who received an annual check-up between 1990 and 1993 were recruited. Anamnesis and physical examination were recorded.
Objective: To evaluate the association between factors, especially those linked to the climacteric, and a history of COVID-19 infection.
Methods: This was an observational, cross-sectional, and analytical study in which women from ten Latin American countries, aged 40-64, who attended a routine health check-up were invited to participate. A positive history for COVID-19 was based on reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction reports.
Background: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a health problem affecting millions of individuals worldwide.
Aim: To evaluate risk factors for hip and knee osteoarthritis (OA) in women aged 40 to 59 years.
Material And Methods: Analysis of a prospective cohort of 1159 women attending preventive health care programs and followed during 28 years.
Objective: To evaluate the association between premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) and mortality.
Materials And Methods: This was a secondary analysis of a long-term cohort of Chilean women who received preventive health care between 1990 and 1993. The exposure variable was POI and the outcome was death, and follow-up time was 30 years.
Objective: We aimed to evaluate which risk factors in middle-aged women are associated with higher risk of multimorbidity in older age.
Study Design: We conducted a prospective cohort study from 1990 to 1993 in Santiago de Chile, Chile among women aged 40-59 (at baseline). Diagnosed illnesses were retrieved from national health records in 2020.
Metformin may decrease cell senescence, including bone; hence we aimed at evaluating the association between metformin use and osteoporosis. This was a cross-sectional study carried out in 1259 Latin American adult women aged 40 or more who were not on anti-osteoporotic drugs, were on metformin and had a bone densitometry performed. Of the whole sample, 40.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: The Menopause Rating Scale (MRS) is one of the most frequently used instruments to evaluate menopausal symptoms; however, no cut-off score is given that would indicate the need for treatment. Our goal was to determine such a cut-off score on the MRS, using as a standard a woman's own perception of her need for treatment in relation to the severity of her symptoms.
Material And Methods: The sample comprised 427 healthy women aged 40-59 years who were not taking hormonal treatment.
Objective: The aim was to study whether the seasonal variation of vitamin D [25(OH)-D or calcidiol] is similar or different in younger and older women living in a southern country.
Methods: Measurement of serum 25(OH)-D concentration in 739 Chilean women aged 20 to 87 years, residents of Santiago (latitude: 33.4° South) who, during a routine gynaecological checkup, agreed to be evaluated.
Objective: The aim of the study was to evaluate the association between waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) and anxiety in middle-aged women.
Methods: We carried out a secondary analysis of data from a multicenter study of women between 40 and 59 years old from 11 Latin America countries. Anxiety was assessed using the Goldberg Anxiety and Depression Scale.
Objective: This study evaluated whether low bone density, a condition related to aging, is associated with low muscle mass, a surrogate for sarcopenia, and whether it could be used as a marker of the condition.
Methods: We studied 483 women aged 35 to 69 years old who appeared healthy and attended a preventive gynecological examination. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry was used to measure bone mineral density (BMD) and regional body composition.
Objective: To evaluate associations between anxiety and severe impairment of quality of life (QoL) in Latin American postmenopausal women.
Methods: This was a secondary analysis of a multicenter cross-sectional study among postmenopausal women aged 40 to 59 from 11 Latin American countries. We evaluated anxiety (The Goldberg Depression and Anxiety Scale), and QoL (Menopause Rating Scale [MRS]), and included sociodemographic, clinical, lifestyle, and anthropometric variables in the analysis.
Musculoskeletal pain (MSP) has been recently linked with high plasma leptin levels. Our objective was to study if obese women, who have higher leptin levels, could have a higher frequency of MSP. We studied 6079 Latin-American women, 40-59 years old.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Previously, the REDLINC VI study showed that the main reason for the low use of menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) was its low rate of prescription by doctors.
Objective: To determine the use of MHT and perceived related risks among gynecologists.
Methods: A self-administered and anonymous questionnaire was delivered to certified gynecologists in 11 Latin American countries.
Objective: The aim of the study was to evaluate the association between sedentary lifestyle and the severity of menopausal symptoms and obesity in middle-aged women.
Methods: The Menopause Rating Scale, the Goldberg Anxiety and Depression Scale, and the Athens Insomnia Scale were administered to 6,079 Latin American women aged 40 to 59 years. Sedentary lifestyle was defined as fewer than three weekly, 30-minute periods of physical activity.
Background: The prevalence of obesity increases during female mid-life and although many factors have been identified, data from Latin America is lacking.
Objective: To assess factors related to obesity among middle-aged women and determine the association with depressive symptoms, sedentary lifestyle and other factors.
Methods: A total of 6079 women aged 40-59 years of 11 Latin American countries were asked to fill out the Goldberg Anxiety and Depression Scale, the Menopause Rating Scale, the Athens Insomnia Scale, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and a general questionnaire containing personal socio-demographic data, anthropometric measures and lifestyle information.
Background: Latin-American women present a greater severity of climacteric symptoms than women from other parts of the world. Previous studies suggest that this could be due to either its Amerindian crossbreeding or the altitude in which a huge proportion of the Latin-American population lives.
Objective: To answer this question, climacteric symptoms between Peruvian women ("Hispanic-Mestizas" and "Quechuas") living in similar altitude (around 3000 MASL) were compared.
Background: Muscle and joint aches (MJA) are frequently observed among menopausal women. They impair quality of life and are a burden to the healthcare system.
Objective: To analyze the relation between MJA and several variables related to the menopause.
Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is a disorder usually affecting middle aged women, who complain of diffuse musculoskeletal aches, pains or stiffness associated with tiredness, anxiety and poor sleep. Neurotransmission disorders linked both to pain perception as well as mood, sleep and cognition modulation are involved in FMS etiopathogenesys. Treatments that may be effective to decrease pain and fatigue include tricyclic antidepressants, dual reuptake inhibitors of serotonin/noradrenalin and pregabalin.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Although sleep disturbances are common during female mid-life, few studies have described in detail the prevalence of this problem and related risk factors.
Objective: To determine the prevalence of sleep disturbances in mid-aged women using validated tools. Assessment of determinants capable of influencing the prevalence of insomnia and poor sleep quality was also performed.