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Survey study, 2023

Does poor sleep quality relate to weight and blood pressure problems in women with PMS?

Women with PMS who slept poorly had about three times more belly fat and higher blood pressure than good sleepers. These problems were not seen in women without PMS, suggesting they may be specific to PMS.

Early or limited evidence 307 women before menopause in Korea.

What they did

Researchers surveyed 307 women before menopause, measuring their sleep quality, PMS symptoms, depression, anxiety, blood pressure, weight, and food and drink intake.

What they found

Women with PMS had worse sleep quality, more depression, and more anxiety. Among women with PMS, poor sleepers had higher triglycerides and higher diastolic blood pressure. Poor sleepers with PMS had about three times more belly fat (16.9% versus 3.0%) compared to good sleepers. Poor sleepers with PMS drank 2.8 times more alcoholic drinks than good sleepers. These patterns were not found in women without PMS.

What it means for you

Poor sleep in women with PMS may be linked to weight gain and higher blood pressure, possibly through increased alcohol consumption. The study cannot prove sleep causes these problems, and it was done only in Korean women so may not apply to other populations.

307

women surveyed

16.9% vs 3.0%

belly fat in poor versus good sleepers

2.8 times

more alcohol in poor sleepers with PMS

About the study

Original title
Sleep Quality in Women with Premenstrual Syndrome Is Associated with Metabolic Syndrome-Related Variables
Authors
Chun H, Doo M
Journal
Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland)
Year
2023
Study design
Survey study
Participants
307
What was tested
None
Open access
Yes
Original abstract

In this study, we examined whether metabolic syndrome (MetS)-related variables are simultaneously affected by sleep quality, premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and dietary consumption. In this cross-sectional study, data for 307 premenopausal women were available. The results showed that women experiencing PMS had significantly lower sleep quality and were more depressed and anxious ( p p = 0.018) and diastolic blood pressure ( p = 0.012) than good sleepers. Among the MetS components, abdominal obesity in women with poor sleep quality was approximately three (16.9% vs. 3.0%, p = 0.020) times more common than in those with good sleep quality. However, these findings were not observed among those who did not experience PMS. Poor sleepers among women experiencing PMS consumed 2.8 times more alcoholic drinks than good sleepers ( p = 0.006). The MetS-related variables in Korean women experiencing PMS are associated with sleep quality, and these associations may be modified by dietary habits.

Reproduced under CC-BY.

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