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Hot Flashes Are Not the Only Cause of Sleep Disturbances Around Menopause

Half the women in this study had primary sleep disorders.

Sleep complaints are common in peri- and postmenopausal women, and hot flashes have been shown to awaken women from sleep. To determine the source of perimenopausal sleep complaints in 102 women (age range, 44–56), investigators assessed their sleep by both subjective and objective means.

Participants’ sleep histories and mood were assessed on standardized instruments; participants also underwent overnight complete polysomnography. Fifty-four women (53%) had primary sleep disorders; 31 women had clinically significant periodic limb movements (PLMs), 23 had significant sleep apnea, and 6 had both. Fifty-seven women (56%) had hot flashes during the night. The major predictors of reduced sleep efficiency in the laboratory were apnea and PLMs, whereas anxiety and hot flashes during the first half of the night were associated with worse subjective sleep on the questionnaire.

Comment: The authors note that this study is not necessarily representative of women generally with insomnia because many potential subjects were excluded for various reasons. Still, the findings indicate that sleep disturbances in perimenopausal women should not be presumed to result from hot flashes — an important observation for clinicians caring for these women.

— Robert W. Rebar, MD

Published in Journal Watch General Medicine September 25, 2007

Citation(s):

Freedman RR and Roehrs TA. Sleep disturbance in menopause. Menopause 2007 Sep/Oct; 14:826.

• Medline abstract (Free)