A study published in Menopause provides a comprehensive overview of the most common conditions diagnosed in clinical practice among women in the U.S. Upper Midwest during their critical midlife transition.

Overall, eight conditions increased by 45% or more between the ages of 40 and 59, and several conditions were more common in Black women and women living in more socioeconomically deprived neighborhoods.

Jennifer St. Sauver, Ph.D., the study's first author and professor of epidemiology at Mayo Clinic, says that the health of women in midlife is understudied, and comprehensive data about women between the ages of 40 and 59 are lacking.

"Most studies examine men and women together. However, we know that men and women age differently, so it's important to do separate studies to understand these differences," she explains.

Researchers know that hypertension and high cholesterol increase rapidly in both men and women during midlife. However, in this study, the researchers were surprised to see such a significant increase in sleep disorders, acid reflux and conditions related to joint and muscle pain in midlife women, according to Dr. St. Sauver.

Together, these data provide a picture of the most common health conditions that come to medical attention in midlife women and the most rapidly increasing, medically diagnosed conditions during the menopause transition.

Key findings

Eight conditions became significantly more common and increased in women during midlife (ages 40-59).

• Disorders of lipid metabolism (high cholesterol)
• Hypertension (high blood pressure)
• Sleep/wake disorders
• Thyroid disorders
• Esophageal disorders (especially acid reflux)
• Osteoarthritis (joint wear and tear)
• Tendon and synovial disorders (problems with joints and connective tissues)
• Menopausal disorders (especially hot flashes)

Black women and women living in socioeconomically deprived neighborhoods were more likely to have many of these conditions. Black women were more likely to have high blood pressure and esophageal disorders (especially acid reflux) compared to white women across all age groups. Women living in more deprived neighborhoods had a significantly higher prevalence of high cholesterol, high blood pressure, sleep disorders and esophageal disorders.

"Our data provide a comprehensive picture of the most common conditions coming to medical attention in midlife women. They are useful for understanding common diagnoses in women during the menopause transition and suggest that additional attention should be focused on Black women and women with lower socioeconomic status to ensure that common midlife conditions are identified and addressed," says women's health researcher and coauthor Stephanie Faubion, M.D., Mayo Clinic in Florida.

The findings also underscore the need for increased research to understand underlying biological changes in women at midlife and how these changes contribute to the development of many conditions throughout the aging process. Such research may suggest future treatments that could be beneficial for multiple conditions. In addition, the findings highlight the need for increased attention to the health needs of Black women and women with lower socioeconomic status to ensure early diagnosis and treatment of common midlife health conditions.

The study used data from the Rochester Epidemiology Project in Minnesota, including medical records from approximately 1.4 million people in the Upper Midwest. Researchers analyzed data from 86,946 women between the ages of 40 and 59. They examined diagnoses recorded in electronic health records between 2016 and 2019.

Review the study for a complete list of authors, disclosures and funding.

Related: Managing menopause symptoms

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