Trinity College part of collaboration to explore menopause and cardiovascular risk
As part of a collaboration on the CARAMEL project (CArdiovascular Risk Assessment in MEnopausaL women via multimodal data analysis enabling personalised prevention strategies), researchers from the School of Nursing and Midwifery at Trinity College Dublin have announced the launch of a large-scale study aimed at assessing cardiovascular risk factors in women aged 40-60, particularly during the menopausal period, when cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk rises significantly. CVD remains the leading cause of death among women in Europe, yet cardiovascular risk in females aged 40-60 is often overlooked.
Researchers will collect data from over 6,000 women through an online survey with the objective of advancing current understanding of sex- and gender-specific cardiovascular risks. The study will be conducted by leading research and clinical partners across Europe and Latin America, including Trinity College Dublin, as well as major hospitals and healthcare institutions in Spain, Croatia, Greece, Lithuania, and Colombia.
The CARAMEL project is funded by the European Union’s Horizon Europe programme, which brings together leading research institutions, hospitals, and experts for a total of 25 partners spanning 11 countries. The project’s overall objective is to develop advanced cardiovascular risk assessment models and digital tools to empower women aged 40-60 to actively manage their cardiovascular health.
The project will run for five years to develop these new tools, as well as clinical guidelines aimed at improving prevention and early detection of CVD in women, with a specific focus on the menopausal transition. CARAMEL adopts an inclusive approach by addressing the needs of women with intellectual disabilities, ensuring that their cardiovascular health is not overlooked. The first phase of CARAMEL will be the collection of data through this survey.
The anonymous questionnaire collects general health and lifestyle information, consists of 65 questions, and will take about 30 minutes to complete. Women aged 40-60 experiencing menopause or perimenopause are invited to complete the online survey.
In addition, nurses and other healthcare professionals, women’s health organisations, and community groups are encouraged to support this initiative by disseminating the survey within their networks. Their engagement is considered vital to ensuring broad participation, which will ultimately enhance the quality and applicability of the research outcomes.
The survey can be accessed at: https://nursingandmidwifery.fra1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_dgpwhTUdxPRg498.
Findings from MEAS indicate significant impact of menopause stigma
New findings from the Menopause Experience and Attitudes Study (MEAS) – an international study examining societal attitudes, personal experiences, and the stigma surrounding menopause and perimenopause across multiple countries – highlight the significant impact both have on women’s physical and mental health, job satisfaction, workplace engagement, and other areas of life. The data also provide insight into how menopause is portrayed in different societies.
MEAS was developed by Astellas Pharma in partnership with external experts to further understand the impact of stigma on women experiencing menopause. The sample of 13,800 people included both the general public and individuals with experience of menopause. The research was conducted in Australia, Brazil, Canada, Germany, Mexico, and the US.
Key findings from MEAS include:
- 65 per cent of respondents reported having experienced negative psychological feelings due to menopause, including anxiety (41%), depression (33%), embarrassment (24%), and shame (11%).
- 36 per cent experienced some kind of negative impact in the workplace including reduced productivity (17%), fear of telling colleagues (14%), and discrimination (7%).
- 24 per cent felt comfortable talking to their line manager.
- 57 per cent believed women are not well supported at work.
- Over half believed menopause is a taboo topic that people are uncomfortable discussing.
- 66 per cent thought that menopause and its symptoms are often not taken seriously.
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