How common is PMDD in Brazilian women and what are the most frequent symptoms?

Objective: To estimate the prevalence and symptom severity of premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) in Brazilian women according to age groups, and to conduct an association analysis between psychoemotional and somatic symptoms. Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: 303 private clinics across Brazil. Population: 45 160 women aged 20-49 years. Methods: Self-report questionnaire regarding the prevalence and intensity of premenstrual symptoms. Statistical analysis performed using Pearson's chi-square test and Poisson regression and multiple logistic regression. Main outcome measures: Prevalence and intensity of somatic and psychoemotional premenstrual symptoms. Results: Prevalence of PMDD was 3.57% (95% CI: 3.40-3.75). Psychoemotional symptoms were more prevalent than somatic symptoms, with anxiety/tension (99.9%) and irritability/anger (99.8%) being the most frequently reported symptoms. Weight gain (92.5%) and edema (92.1%) were the most prevalent somatic symptoms. Anxiety/tension and headache occurred independently of other symptoms. Binge eating was associated with weight gain (OR = 2.77, 95% CI [2.11, 3.62]), acne (OR = 2.37, 95% CI [1.79, 3.10]), immunoallergic exacerbations (OR = 1.81, 95% CI [1.26, 2;60]) and edema (OR-0.74, 95% CI [0.55, 0.97]). Affective lability was associated with immunoallergic exacerbations (OR = 1.49, 95% CI [1.16, 1.91]) and mastalgia (OR = 1.29, 95% CI [1.02, 1.63]). Depression was associated with acne (OR = 0.72, 95% CI [0.57, 0.89]) and weight gain (OR = 0.77, 95% CI [0.61, 0.96]). Conclusions: The prevalence of PMDD was consistent with other population studies. Psychoemotional symptoms were more prevalent. Association analysis provided new insights into premenstrual symptomatology.

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