Laboratory and ambulatory evaluation of vasomotor symptom monitors from the Menopause Strategies Finding Lasting Answers for Symptoms and Health network
Year: 2012
Type: article
Abstract: OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate monitors for assessing vasomotor symptoms (VMS) in laboratory and ambulatory settings before use in the Menopause Strategies Finding Lasting Answers for Symptoms and Health network clinical trials testing VMS therapies. METHODS: This was a three-phase study. Phase 1 included laboratory testing of the Freedman and prototype Bahr Monitor, phase 2 included laboratory testing of the commercial Bahr Monitor and Biolog, and phase 3 included ambulatory testing of the commercial Bahr Monitor and Biolog. All phases enrolled midlife women with VMS, midlife women without VMS, and young women without VMS. The participants self-reported VMS by pressing event marker buttons. Questionnaires assessed demographics (all phases) and monitor acceptability (phases 2 and 3). RESULTS: Phase I testing was stopped because of sensitivity of the Freedman device to ambient humidity changes and lack of analytic software for the prototype Bahr Monitor. In phases 2 and 3, agreement between event-marked and commercial Bahr Monitor or Biolog-recorded VMS was higher in the laboratory than in the ambulatory setting; however, agreement between monitors was poor in two of three laboratory groups (midlife no VMS and young no VMS) and in all ambulatory groups. During ambulatory monitoring, the mean number of Bahr Monitor VMS was 16.33 in midlife women with VMS, 9.61 in midlife women without VMS, and 14.63 in young women without VMS (software version, March 2011). The Bahr Monitor was more acceptable than the larger Biolog, but feedback reflected annoyance at having to wear a device that itched and was visible under clothing. CONCLUSIONS: The Bahr Monitor and Biolog seem suitable for use in controlled laboratory conditions during short periods of time. However, the current versions of these monitors may not be suitable for ambulatory clinical trials at this time.
Institutions: Indiana University Indianapolis, Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis, Group Health Cooperative, Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute, Kaiser Permanente, Harvard University, Massachusetts General Hospital, University of Washington, University of Minnesota, United States Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration, Minneapolis VA Medical Center
Language: English
Subfield: Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
Awards: Menopausal Symptoms Initiative-Finding Lasting Answers for Sweats and Hot Flashes, MSI-FLASH: An Exercise Intervention for Women with Menopausal Symptoms, MsFLASH: Living a Healthy Menopause, Indiana Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute, MSI FLASH: An RCT of Yoga and Ultra Low-Dose Estrogen Gel for Vasomotor Symptoms, Indiana Clinical and Translational Science Institute (UL1), MSI-FLASH: Relative Efficacy of Hormonal and Non-Hormonal Interventions for VMS, G583498415, MSI-FLASH: Paced Respiration for Breast Cancer Survivors
OpenAlex ID: W2069963914