Medical Affairs Bayer Pharmaceuticals Riverview, FL, United States
Introduction: VMS are the most frequently reported menopausal symptoms and vary across race and ethnicity, with higher prevalence and duration reported among Black and Hispanic women. This study sought to describe the clinical characteristics, demographics, and treatment patterns of menopausal women with VMS (symptomatic menopausal state) and without VMS (asymptomatic menopausal state) in a commercial claims population. Methods: Optum’s de-identified Clinformatics® Data Mart Database data (2012–2022) were obtained for peri/menopausal (aged 40-54 years) and postmenopausal (aged 55-64 years) women. In Phase-1, prevalence of symptomatic and asymptomatic peri/menopause (defined by ICD 9/10 codes) and baseline demographics/clinical characteristics were obtained. Phase-2 included baseline demographics/clinical characteristics, VMS incidence rates, and treatment patterns analyses. Results: Phase-1 included 967,649 (48.7%) perimenopausal and 1,019,706 (51.3%) postmenopausal women. VMS prevalence was 5.7% - highest in White (6.3%) and lowest in Asian (3.4%) women. Hormone therapy, antidepressant, and sleep medication utilization rates (2012-2022) ranged from 22.1-29.2%, 11.4-18.5%, and 13.9-22.5% for symptomatic and 9.3-15.1%, 10.2-17.0%, 9.3-18.5% for asymptomatic patients, respectively.
Phase-2 included 203,546 (53.3%) perimenopausal and 178,658 (46.7%) postmenopausal women. VMS incidence was 1.2%; only 57.6% of patients with VMS were treated. Lower incidence and treatment rates were seen among Asian (0.8%, 38.3%), Hispanic (1.1%, 50.9%), and Black (0.9%, 51.8%) women compared to White (1.3%, 60.2%) women. Conclusion/Implications: Research suggests Black and Hispanic women experience frequent and severe menopausal symptoms. Our findings suggest Asian, Black, and Hispanic women are less likely to have symptoms documented and receive treatment. Claims data may not accurately reflect prevalence/incidence and underreporting among minorities may be prevalent.
Disclosure(s):
Lena Charafi, DPharm: No financial relationships to disclose
Kristina Rosa Cruz Bolling, PhD: Bayer Pharmaceuticals: Employee (Ongoing); Bayer U.S. LLC: Employee (Ongoing)