AN EPIDEMIOLOGICAL STUDY ON PREVALENCE OF CHRONIC DISEASES IN POST-MENOPAUSAL WOMEN IN MUMBAI AND KARACHI

Introduction: Menopause, or the permanent cessation of menstruation, is one of the significant stages in the normal development in a woman’s life. During menopause, women undergo series of endocrinal and biological changes that are associated with increased prevalence of chronic conditions such as type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, osteoporosis, dyslipidemia, and obesity. Objective: Present study explores the prevalence of chronic diseases and the probable role of socioeconomic conditions in post-menopausal women in Mumbai and Karachi. Methods: A prospective cross-sectional study was done in a total of 295 post-menopausal women from Mumbai (n=150) and Karachi (n=145) to assess the prevalence of chronic diseases and their socioeconomic conditions. Results: Hypertension was the most prevalent chronic disease in post-menopausal women from Mumbai (n=28; 18.6%) as well as from Karachi (n=18; 12.4%). Type II diabetes mellitus was found to be the second most prevalent chronic disease among post-menopausal women from Mumbai (n=27; 18%) and Karachi and (n=17; 11.7%). No graduation, the income of 20,000 to 50,000 per month (Indian Rupee or Pakistan Rupee), and marital dissolution were associated with a higher prevalence of chronic diseases among post-menopausal women both from Mumbai and Karachi.