日本女性医学学会は更年期障害から老年期の医学的諸問題まで思春期も含め女性の一生を通じ研究する医療従事者の団体です。

ORIGINAL Usefulness of FRAX® as a screening tool for osteoporosis

Iino Kaori, Tarakida Ayako, Abe Kazuhiro, Taniguchi Ryosuke, Misaki Naoko, Higuchi Tsuyoshi, Nakaji Shigeyuki, and Mizunuma Hideki

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hirosaki University Graduate School of Medicine

Summary
Introduction: FRAX® was developed by WHO for the evaluation of fracture risk of patients based on individual patient model after integrating the risks associated with clinical risk factors. By this tool, we can calculate the individual 10-year probabilities of osteoporotic fracture. This study was to compare the fracture probabilities calculated by FRAX® with actual fracture rates in the community.
Method: This study is performed as a part of health promotion projects of general residents living in the rural area in Japan. Two hundreds and forty women aged > 50 years old were followed for 5 years since 2005. Clinical background on age, height, weight, age of menopause, smoking habits, alcohol consumption, and the experience of fracture were collected every year. The 10-year provability of fracture was calculated by FRAX® based on the 2005 data and this probability was compared with the real fracture rate observed during follow-up. Physical examination including background research, blood and urine collection and Osteo-Sono Index measurement of the calcanei were also studied.
Result: The 10-year provability of fracture calculated by FRAX® and actual fracture rate were 4.31% and 4.12% for women aged 50-59 years old (N = 95), 8.23% and14.26 % for women aged 60-69 years old (N = 104), and 15.20% and 17.73% for women aged >70 years (N = 41), respectively.
Conclusion: Fracture probability calculated from FRAX® may be underestimated. Therefore, other risk factor (e.g. marker of bone metabolism) or bone density should be assessed when we use FRAX® as a tool of osteoporotic screening.
 
ORIGINAL The Menopause Week 2012 questionnaire survey: determinants of quality of life in Japanese middle-aged women

Machi SUKA ¹, Asako TANIUCHI ², Suguru IGARASHI ², Nanako SHIMBASHI ²,
Bunpei ISHIZUKA ³
1) Department of Public Health and Environmental Medicine, the Jikei University School of Medicine
2) Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, St. Marianna University School of Medicine
3) Department of Advanced Reproductive Medicine, St. Marianna University School of Medicine

Summary
Objective: To examine quality of life (QOL) and its determinants in Japanese middle-aged women.
Methods: The Menopause Week 2012 questionnaire survey was conducted among healthy women aged 45-59 years who were registered with an Internet survey company. QOL was measured using 1) EQ-5D-5L (as a measure of generic QOL), 2) WHO-5 (as a measure of mental well-being), and 3) Ikigai-9 (as a measure of life worth living). Multiple regression and path analysis were performed among 510 eligible respondents to determine the relationships among sociodemographics, menopausal symptoms, and the three types of measurements of QOL.
Results: Menopausal symptoms had a direct negative effect on the EQ-5D, WHO-5, and Ikigai-9 scores. Economic strain had a direct negative effect on menopausal symptoms, and directly or indirectly affected on the EQ-5D, WHO-5, and Ikigai-9 scores. Having a regular job had a direct positive effect on the WHO-5 and Ikigai-9 scores, but having a non-regular job did not.
Conclusions: Menopausal symptoms may cause a significant deterioration in QOL in midlife. Symptom relief is essential for making them feel happy and see that life is worth living. Enlightenment activities should be continuously conducted to inform appropriate strategies to cope with menopausal symptoms.
 
ORIGINAL Prevalence of Dry Syndrome in Females Assessed by a Web-based survey

Kayoko Ito1), Kiyoshi Takamatsu2), Kaname Nohno3), Aki Yamada4), Saori Funayama1), Mariko Ogawa2), Makoto Inoue4)

1) Geriatric Dentistry, Niigata University Medical and Dental Hospital
2) Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tokyo Dental College Ichikawa General Hospital
3) Division of Preventive Dentistry, Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences
4) Division of Dysphagia Rehabilitation, Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences

<Summery>
Objectives: Dry syndrome is a new concept regarding the dryness of various regions of the body, (e.g., eyes, nose, mouth, vagina, and skin), as a dryness syndrome. There are no studies addressing dryness among various regions in the same subjects. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of dryness of the eyes, nose, mouth, vagina, and skin in a Japanese population.
Methods: A Web-based questionnaire about the degree of dryness of the eyes, nose, mouth, vagina, and skin was performed. Subjects comprised 310 women, aged 30, 40, 50, 60 and 70 years (n = 62 women in each age group).
Results: The prevalence of dryness was 54.2% in the eyes, 31.0% in the nose, 41.3% in the mouth, 13.6% in the vagina, and 49.4% in the skin. Only 21.9% of the subjects had a single region of dryness and 54.2% had multiple areas of dryness. Approximately 60% of the subjects who experienced vaginal dryness had dryness in all 5 regions. It is important to ask patients who complain of dryness whether there is dryness in other regions, and to institute appropriate therapy for all regions. In particular, a careful evaluation must be done for patients who experience vaginal dryness.