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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2021 Jun 1.
Published in final edited form as: Climacteric. 2020 Nov 11;24(3):214–228. doi: 10.1080/13697137.2020.1834529

Table 2.

Characteristics of studies with analyses among midlife Latinas during the menopause transition

Author (Year) Study Design Location N Total N Latina (%) Age Range or Mean Age Latina Identity Outcome Measure
Sex Hormones, Menstrual Cycle Patterns
Crawford (2009) [78] Cross-sectional analysis of SWAN USA 2886 248 (8.6) 42–52 years, Mean: 46 years Self-identified as Central American, Cuban or Cuban American, Dominican, Mexican or Mexican American, Puerto Rican, South American, Spanish or other Hispanic. Concentration of circulating dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS).
Lasley (2002) [20] Longitudinal analysis of SWAN (baseline thru follow-up Visit 2) USA 3029 252 (8.3) Mean (baseline): 46 years Participants considered Hispanic/Latinas if self-identified as Central American, Cuban or Cuban American, Dominican, Mexican or Mexican American, Puerto Rican, South American, Spanish or other Hispanic. Circulating DHEAS, testosterone, and estradiol.
Randolph (2003) [17] Cross-sectional analysis of SWAN USA 2930 258 (8.8) 42–52 years, Mean: 46 years Participants considered Hispanic/Latinas if self-identified as Central American, Cuban or Cuban American, Dominican, Mexican or Mexican American, Puerto Rican, South American, Spanish or other Hispanic. Serum estradiol (E2), FSH, testosterone (T), DHEAS, and SHBG concentrations and calculated estimates of free steroid availability, free testosterone index, and free E2 index.
Randolph (2004) [79] Longitudinal analysis of SWAN (baseline and follow-up Visit 1 or Visit 2). USA 3257 275 (8.4) Mean (baseline): 46 years Participants considered Hispanic/Latinas if self-identified as Central American, Cuban or Cuban American, Dominican, Mexican or Mexican American, Puerto Rican, South American, Spanish or other Hispanic. Serum E2 and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH).
Menopausal Symptoms and Mental Health
Avis (2001) [80] Cross-sectional analysis of SWAN screening visit USA 14907 1859 (12.5) 40–55 years, Mean: 47 years Participants considered Hispanic/Latinas if self-identified as Central American, Cuban or Cuban American, Dominican, Mexican or Mexican American, Puerto Rican, South American, Spanish or other Hispanic. Presence or absence of the following in the past two weeks: hot flashes, night sweats, joint stiffness, forgetfulness, feeling tense or nervous, feeling blue or depressed, vaginal dryness, irritability or grouchiness, heart pounding or racing.
Avis (2003) [81] Cross-sectional analysis of SWAN USA 3302 264 (8) 42–52 years, Mean: 46 years Participants considered Hispanic/Latinas if self-identified as Central American, Cuban or Cuban American, Dominican, Mexican or Mexican American, Puerto Rican, South American, Spanish or other Hispanic. Health related quality of Life assessed using the Short Form-36.
Avis (2015) [22] Longitudinal analysis of SWAN (baseline thru follow-up Visit 13) in overall sample and a post-FMP subsample USA Overall: 1449, Post-FMP: 881 Overall: 109 (7.5), Post-FMP: 50 (5.7) Overall: 50 years; Post-FMP: 52 years Participants considered Hispanic/Latinas if self-identified as Central American, Cuban or Cuban American, Dominican, Mexican or Mexican American, Puerto Rican, South American, Spanish or other Hispanic. Frequent VMS: Report of hot flashes or night sweats for 6+ days in the previous 2 weeks.
Bromberger (2001) [82] Cross-sectional analysis of SWAN screening visit USA 10374 1403 (13.5) 42–52 years, Mean: 46 years Participants considered Hispanic/Latinas if self-identified as Central American, Cuban or Cuban American, Dominican, Mexican or Mexican American, Puerto Rican, South American, Spanish or other Hispanic. Psychological distress (feeling tense, depressed, irritable) in prior 2 weeks.
Bromberger (2010) [45] Longitudinal analysis in SWAN (baseline thru follow-up Visit 8) USA 3292 284 (8.6) Mean (baseline): 46 years Participants considered Hispanic/Latinas if self-identified as Central American, Cuban or Cuban American, Dominican, Mexican or Mexican American, Puerto Rican, South American, Spanish or other Hispanic. Depressive symptoms using Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D≥16)
Gaston (2019) [38] Cross-sectional analysis of The Sister Study USA, Puerto Rico 38007 1829 (4.8) 35–74 years, 55 years Self-report of Hispanic/Latino ethnicity and any race. Sleep characteristics (sleep duration, inconsistent sleep patterns, sleep debt, napping 3 or more times a week, insomnia symptoms, difficulty falling asleep, difficulty staying asleep, sleep medication use).
Gibson (2011) [31] Cross-sectional analysis of SWAN Daily Hormone Study USA 625 46 (7.4) 42–52 years, Mean: 49 years Participants considered Hispanic/Latinas if self-identified as Central American, Cuban or Cuban American, Dominican, Mexican or Mexican American, Puerto Rican, South American, Spanish or other Hispanic. Hot flashes, night sweats, trouble sleeping, or abdominal pain/cramps in the last 24 hours (yes/no).
Gold (2000) [30] Cross-sectional analysis of SWAN screening visit USA 16065 1718 (13.8) 40–55 years Participants considered Hispanic/Latinas if self-identified as Central American, Cuban or Cuban American, Dominican, Mexican or Mexican American, Puerto Rican, South American, Spanish or other Hispanic. Hot flashes and/or night sweats in past two weeks (any vs. none).
Gold (2006) [23] Longitudinal analysis of SWAN (baseline thru follow-up Visit 5) USA 3198 284 (8.9) Mean (baseline): 46 years Self-identified as Central American, Cuban or Cuban American, Dominican, Mexican or Mexican American, Puerto Rican, South American, Spanish or other Hispanic. Frequency of VMS = # of days in past 2 weeks with cold sweats, night sweats, HF. Any vs. None; <6 days vs. 6+ days.
Green (2010) [60] Cross-sectional analysis of SWAN USA 419 277 (66) 42–52 years, Mean: 46 years Self-report of Central American, South American, Cuban, Puerto Rican, and Dominican Vasomotor symptoms, vaginal dryness, and changes in sleeping patterns; number of days in the past 2 weeks (1–5, 6–8, 9–13 and every day).
Hale (2014) [37] Cross-sectional analysis of SWAN USA 1180 196 (16.6) 42–52 years, Mean: 45.8 years Self-report of Central American, South American, Cuban, Puerto Rican, and Dominican Sleep-related complaints among US-born versus foreign-born women undergoing the menopausal transition.
Im (2009) [35] Qualitative online forum USA 27 27 (100) Mean: 50 years Self-report of Puerto Rican, Venezuelan, Mexican, Mixed, or Unspecified. Menopausal symptom experience
Im (2017) [39] Cross-sectional secondary analysis of two larger surveys USA 1054 255 (24.2) 40–60 years, Mean: 49 years Self-identify as Hispanic. Sleep symptomatology among immigrant women during the menopausal transition.
Im (2018) [54] Longitudinal, secondary analysis of two larger surveys USA 1054 255 (24.2) 40–60 years; Mean: 49 years Self-identify as Hispanic. Symptoms assessed using the Cognitive Symptom Index for Midlife Women (forgetfulness, concentration problems, depression, anxiety, VMS).
Kravitz (2003) [7] Cross-sectional, secondary analysis of SWAN USA 12603 1656 (13) 40–55 years Self-report of Central American, South American, Cuban, Puerto Rican, and Dominican. Difficulty sleeping over the past two weeks (yes/no).
Kravitz (2008) [40] Longitudinal analysis of SWAN (baseline thru follow-up Visit 7) USA 3045 229 (7.5) 42–52 years; Mean: 46 years Self-identify as Hispanic. Self-reported difficulty falling sleep, staying asleep, and early morning awakening during the previous 2 weeks; Number of nights of difficulty.
Lanza di Scalea (2012) [46] Cross-sectional during third SWAN visit USA 2549 162 (6.2) 45–55 years, Mean: 49 years Participants considered Hispanic/Latinas if self-identified as Central American, Cuban or Cuban American, Dominican, Mexican or Mexican American, Puerto Rican, South American, Spanish or other Hispanic. Depressive symptoms (CES-D≥16); Anxiety symptoms (feeling tense, nervous, irritable, grouchy, fearful, and heart pounding or racing total score ≥4), or low social functioning (bottom 25th percentile of the Short-Form-36 social functioning subscale).
Reece (2006) [83] Cross-sectional USA 147 63 (43) 40–60 years; Mean: 49 years Self-identify as Latina. Perimenopausal health self-efficacy, perceived stress, and self-perceive functional health status.
Reed (2013) [84] Cross-sectional. USA 5632 349 (6.1) 45–58 years; Latinas 53.4 Self-report of Hispanic (yes/no). VMS frequency within 2 weeks; VMS ever (yes/no); recent symptom bother (hot flashes, night sweats, headache and joint-ache within 3 months).
Schnatz (2006) [44] Cross-sectional USA 404 202 (50) Mean: 61 years (overall); 60 years (Latinas) Self-report of Hispanic. Within the Latina group women reported several places of birth including: USA, Puerto Rico, Peru, Colombia, Western Europe, Brazil, Dominican Republic, Cuba, Bolivia, and “Other” Health-related quality of life using the Short Form-36 scale and an assessment of VMS ever and subsequent intensity.
Sexual Health
Schnatz (2010) [25] Cross-sectional USA 102 78 (80) Mean: 52 years Self-identify as Hispanic; women were primarily Puerto Rican. Female sexual dysfunction (vaginal dryness, dyspareunia, decreased sexual desire) reported “not at all”, “sometimes”, “often”.
Cardiovascular and Cardiometabolic Health
Allshouse (2018) [75] Cross-sectional analysis of SWAN USA 2371 168 (3.9) 42–52, Mean: 46 years Participants considered Hispanic/Latinas if self-identified as Central American, Cuban or Cuban American, Dominican, Mexican or Mexican American, Puerto Rican, South American, Spanish or other Hispanic. Incident metabolic syndrome; time to metabolic syndrome.
Derby (2006) [69] Cross-sectional analysis of SWAN USA 1490 110 (7.4) Mean: 46.7 years (overall); 46.4 years (Latinas) Participants considered Hispanic/Latinas if self-identified as Central American, Cuban or Cuban American, Dominican, Mexican or Mexican American, Puerto Rican, South American, Spanish or other Hispanic. Blood pressure classification according to JNC7 Guidelines; Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels according to ATP III Guidelines.
Im (2015) [85] Cross-sectional internet survey USA 466 102 (21.9) 40–60 years; Mean: 49.3 years Self-report of Hispanic/Latina ethnicity and any race. Cardiovascular symptoms (e.g., assessed using the Cardiovascular Symptoms Index in Midlife Women.
Jackson (2017) [71] Longitudinal analysis over an average of 9.1 years in SWAN USA 3302 133 (8.7) 42–52 years; Mean: 50.6 years Participants considered Hispanic/Latinas if self-identified as Central American, Cuban or Cuban American, Dominican, Mexican or Mexican American, Puerto Rican, South American, Spanish or other Hispanic. Antihypertensive medication utilization, including medication class.
El Khoudary (2016) [19] Longitudinal analysis of SWAN (baseline thru follow-up Visit 12) USA 856 52 (6.1) Mean: 46 years (baseline); 60 years (Visit 12) Participants considered Hispanic/Latinas if self-identified as Central American, Cuban or Cuban American, Dominican, Mexican or Mexican American, Puerto Rican, South American, Spanish or other Hispanic. Carotid ultrasound measurement of intima-media thickness, adventitial diameter, and presence/absence of plaque.
Sutton-Tyrrell (2005) [86] Cross-sectional analysis of SWAN USA 3297 286 (8.7) 42–52 years, Mean: 46 years Participants considered Hispanic/Latinas if self-identified as Central American, Cuban or Cuban American, Dominican, Mexican or Mexican American, Puerto Rican, South American, Spanish or other Hispanic. CVD risk factors (body composition, blood pressure, lipids/lipoproteins, insulin, glucose, hemostatic/ inflammatory markers)
Thurston (2015) [21] Longitudinal analysis of SWAN (baseline thru follow-up Visit 12) USA 811 46 (5.7) Mean: 46 years (baseline); 60 years (Visit 12) Participants considered Hispanic/Latinas if self-identified as Central American, Cuban or Cuban American, Dominican, Mexican or Mexican American, Puerto Rican, South American, Spanish or other Hispanic. Carotid ultrasound measurement of intima-media thickness and presence/absence of plaque.
Torrens (2004) [87] Cross-sectional analysis of SWAN USA 2789 218 42–52 years, Mean: 46 years Participants considered Hispanic/Latinas if self-identified as Central American, Cuban or Cuban American, Dominican, Mexican or Mexican American, Puerto Rican, South American, Spanish or other Hispanic. B-cell function and insulin sensitivity.
Ward (2019) [26] Longitudinal, SWAN USA 3003 237 (7.9) 42–52 years, Mean: 46 years Participants considered Hispanic/Latinas if self-identified as Central American, Cuban or Cuban American, Dominican, Mexican or Mexican American, Puerto Rican, South American, Spanish or other Hispanic. Components of metabolic syndrome (high fasting triglycerides, low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high fasting plasma glucose, abdominal obesity, hypertension).

Note. SWAN = Study of Women’s Health Across the Nations; USA = United Stated of American;