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- Title
Menstrual cycle and respiratory symptoms in a general nordic-baltic population.
- Authors
Macsali, Ferenc; Svanes, Cecilie; Sothern, Robert B; Benediktsdottir, Bryndis; Bjørge, Line; Dratva, Julia; Franklin, Karl A; Holm, Mathias; Janson, Christer; Johannessen, Ane; Lindberg, Eva; Omenaas, Ernst R; Schlünssen, Vivi; Zemp, Elizabeth; Real, Francisco Gómez
- Abstract
Rationale: There is little knowledge of variations in respiratory symptoms during the menstrual cycle in a general population, and potential modifying factors are not investigated. Objectives: To investigate menstrual cycle variation in respiratory symptoms in a large general population, using chronobiology methodology, and stratifying by body mass index (BMI), smoking, and asthma status. Methods: A total of 3,926 women with regular cycles less than or equal to 28 days and not taking exogenous sex hormones answered a postal questionnaire regarding the first day of their last menstruation and respiratory symptoms in the last 3 days. Moving 4-day means were computed to smooth uneven records of daily sampling; best-fitting 28-day composite cosine curves were applied to each time series to describe rhythmicity. Measurements and Main Results: Significant rhythmic variations over the menstrual cycle were found in each symptom for all subjects and subgroups. Wheezing was higher on cycle Days 10-22, with a midcycle dip near the time of putative ovulation (approximately Days 14-16) in most subgroups. Shortness of breath was higher on days 7-21, with a dip just before midcycle in many subgroups. Cough was higher just after putative ovulation for subjects with asthma, BMI greater than or equal to 23 kg/m(2), and smokers, or just before ovulation and menses onset for low symptomatic subgroups. Conclusions: Respiratory symptoms varied significantly during the menstrual cycle and were most frequent from the midluteal to midfollicular stages, often with a dip near the time of ovulation. The patterns varied by BMI, smoking, and asthma status. These relations link respiratory symptoms with hormonal changes through the menstrual cycle and imply a potential for individualized chronotherapy for respiratory diseases.
- Publication
American Journal of Respiratory & Critical Care Medicine, 2013, Vol 187, Issue 4, p366
- ISSN
1073-449X
- Publication type
Journal Article
- DOI
10.1164/rccm.201206-1112OC