The Influence of Early Menopause in Women with Rheumatoid Arthritis; A Systematic Review

Abstract   Background: Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic disease affecting the immune system and it particularly targets synovial joints, bringing about inflammation and causing functional limitations. Objective: To explore the evidence showing the influence of early menopause in women with rheumatoid arthritis. Methods: In this systematic review, all the literature from 2010 to 2019 was searched with specific keywords “menopause, premature menopause, early menopause, rheumatoid arthritis, rheumatic diseases” with the use of Boolean operators. Databases that were thoroughly searched included Google Scholar, PubMed and HEC digital library. After careful screening, 10 studies that met the inclusion criteria were included in the review. The quality of these articles was assessed using the AXIS tool for that cross-sectional studies. Results: These studies indicated that post-menopausal women are at higher risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis and they are more likely to have early or premature menopause (in ≤45 years). At baseline, the post-menopausal women had high health assessment questionnaire scores than pre-menopausal women. Conclusion: This review states that menopausal women are highly at risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis, especially those experiencing this at an early age and this condition can also worsen arthritic symptoms. Hormonal changes may influence pathways that are distinct from those leading to severe and progressive rheumatoid arthritis. *Corresponding author: Zehra Kazmi, University Institute of Physical Therapy, University of Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan; Email: zaza.kazmi110@gmail.com Citation: Kazmi Z. 2021. The influence of early menopause in women with rheumatoid arthritis; a systematic review. The Healer Journal of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Sciences, 1(1):27-37.