갱년기 증후군 안면홍조, 심계항진, 불면의 임상적 상관성 분석

Abstract

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the clinical relevance of three common menopausal symptoms - hot flushes, palpitations, and insomnia. Their interrelationships and their impact on total scores of the Kupperman Index (KI) and the Menopause Rating Scale (MRS) were analyzed. Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted on 40 women who visited the Women’s Medicine Clinic at Pusan National University Korean Medicine Hospital between January and December 2024. All participants were first-time visitors who completed both the KI and MRS questionnaires. Patients diagnosed with premature menopause before the age of 40 were excluded. We used correlation analysis, ANOVA, and multiple regression to examine the associations and predictive power of each symptom on the total scores. Results: The three symptoms were not significantly correlated with one another, indicating that they are pathophysiologically independent. Insomnia showed the strongest association with both KI (p=0.004) and MRS (p=0.006) total scores. Palpitations were statistically significant in the KI (p=0.048), but not in the MRS (p=0.072). Hot flushes did not show a significant association in either scale (p>0.05). Multiple regression analysis further identified insomnia as the most influential predictor of overall menopausal symptom severity. Conclusions: Insomnia is a key determinant of overall menopausal symptom severity and may need to be prioritized in clinical evaluation and treatment planning. The lack of correlation among symptoms underscores the importance of individualized management strategies. Future studies should explore integrative Korean medicine approaches tailored to specific predominant symptoms such as insomnia, palpitations, or hot flushes.