Self-reported arthritis and the menopause

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of self-reported arthritis in a population-based cohort of mid-aged women and to identify health, social and lifestyle factors associated with self-reported arthritis. DESIGN: Cross-sectional population-based survey. METHOD: Data were obtained from a telephone-administered questionnaire of 2001 Australian-born women between 45 and 55 years old and residing in Melbourne. Information was collected on demographics, lifestyle factors and health conditions. RESULTS: The most commonly reported symptom in this cohort was aches and stiff joints, reported by 51.7% of the women; 34.4% of participants reported they had been diagnosed with arthritis. More postmeno..