Correlation analysis of common menopause rating scales for Chinese women

YANG Lingjin; TANG Ruiyi; CHEN Rong

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1674-3806.2025.05.07

Abstract：Objective To analyze the correlation and consistency among 4 commonly used menopause scales for Chinese women.Methods The electronic questionnaire data of 13 498 menopausal women who visited their doctors in 27 hospitals in multiple regions of China from January 2016 to December 2024 were retrospectively analyzed.The questionnaires included modified Kupperman Index(mKI),Menopause-Specific Quality of Life Questionnaire(MENQOL),Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale(HADS)and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index(PSQI).The correlation and consistency among the above 4 scales in evaluating menopausal-related symptoms were compared.The MENQOL encompassed 4 dimensions:vasomotor symptoms,psychosocial state,physiological state and sexual life.The HADS consisted of Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale-Anxiety(HADS-A)and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale-Depression(HADS-D).Results The median age of the research subjects was 52 years.The total scores of mKI were moderately to strongly correlated with the scores of each dimension of MENQOL(The values of rs were 0.659,0.632,0.686 and 0.512,respectively).The consistency in judging the presence or absence of symptoms was moderate(The values of Kappa were 0.350,0.330,0.217 and 0.283,respectively),and the differences were statistically significant(P＜0.001).The mKI had a weak to moderate correlation with HADS subscales(The values of r,were 0.531 and 0.363,respectively).The scores of psychosocial state in MENQOL had a moderate to strong correlation with HADS subscales(The values of rs were 0.665 and 0.479,respectively)(P＜0.01).The consistency of the evaluation results was poor(The Kappa values of mKI and HADS subscales were 0.094 and 0.083,respectively,and the Kappa values of psychosocial state in MENQOL and HADS subscales were 0.053 and 0.041,respectively,P＜0.001).The total scores of mKI and the scores of physiological state in MENQOL were strongly correlated with the scores of PSQI(The values of rs were 0.634 and 0.593,respectively,P＜0.01).The consistency of the evaluation results between the total scores of mKI and the scores of PSQI was moderate(Kappa=0.306,P＜0.01).The consistency of the evaluation results between the scores of physiological state in MENQOL and the scores of PSQI was poor(Kappa=0.074,P＜0.001).Conclusion Appropriate questionnaires should be selected and combined according to specific circumstances in clinical practice.The correlation between mKI and MENQOL is relatively strong.Patients with severe emotional distress may consider undergoing HADS evaluation.