Determinants of hot flashes and night sweats

Primary Objective: The purpose of this study was to identify determinants of hot flashes and night sweats, two vasomotor symptoms associated with the hormonal changes of the menopause transition. Methods: Participants were 293 women, aged 45 to 55, randomly selected from automated demographic and membership records of a health maintenance organization in the northeast USA. Letters were mailed to eligible women, followed by face-to-face interviews. Results: Hot flashes during the month before interview were reported by 57% of the participants, although only 9% of the entire sample reported hot flashes to be "bothersome''. Night sweats were reported by 36% of all participants, with 6% reporting night sweats to be "bothersome''. Fifty- four percent of women reporting hot flashes also reported night sweats. In logistic regression analyses that controlled for menopause status and use of hormone therapy ( HT), daily alcohol consumption significantly increased the risk of hot flashes, night sweats, and bothersome night sweats. Higher education and an excellent self-rating of health decreased the risk of night sweats, but not hot flashes. Smoking increased the risk of bothersome hot flashes, but not bothersome night sweats. Conclusions: In logistic regression analyses, alcohol consumption was a significant predictor of vasomotor symptoms. A slightly different set of variables were associated with hot flashes compared to night sweats.