Factores asociados a dolores musculares y articulares en mujeres afrodescendientes climatéricas

Objective: To estimate the frequency of muscle and joint pain and to identify if other menopausal symptoms, age, nutritional status, metabolic risk, and menopausal status were associated factors. Methods: A Cross-sectional study which is part of the CAVIMEC project (Calidad de vida en la menopausia y Etnias Colombianas) was carried out in climacteric Afro-descendant women, between 40 and 59 years old, living in the Colombian Caribbean. They were surveyed in their own residences, prior informed consent. The Menopause Rating Scale was applied, this instrument assesses menopausal symptoms. Logistic regression was performed and the Spearman correlation coefficient was estimated. P value<0.05 was statistically significant. Results: 420 women were studied, median age 50.0 ± 6.1, 22.8% postmenopausal and 82.8% with abdominal obesity. 243 (57.9%) had muscle and joint pain. All menopausal symptoms were more frequent among women with muscle and joint pain. Depressed mood OR: 4.20 (95 % CI:1.55-11.74), age 50-54 years OR: 3.68 (95 % CI:1.53-8.82), heart palpitations OR:3.00 (95 % CI:1.51-5.98), age 55-50 years OR: 2.48 (95 % CI:1.08-5.64) and hot flashes OR: 1.92 (95 % CI:1.11-3.31) were associated with muscle and joint pain. The same was identified with the abdominal circumference OR: 0.322 (95 % CI:0.233-0.405) and hip circumference OR: 0.318 (95 % CI:0.229-0.401). Conclusions: High frequency of muscle and joint pain was identified. Aging, psychological and somato/vegetative symptoms, as well as abdominal and hip circumference, were significantly associated with muscle and joint pain. Keywords: Climacteric, Menopause, Arthralgia, Ethnic Groups, African Continental Ancestry Group.