Impacto de los síntomas de la menopausia sobre el rendimiento laboral y económico en enfermeras: estudio transversal

Objective: To evaluate the impact of menopausal symptoms on work performance and estimate the economic burden, as well as to describe the frequency of menopausal symptoms. Materials and Methods: Across-sectional study was conducted including 135 nurses (45-59 years old) treated for menopausal symptoms at five private clinics in the Coffee Region of Colombia between 2019 and 2025. The Menopause Rating Scale (MRS) instrument was used. The effects of menopausal symptoms on work performance and their economic impact were assessed. Descriptive statistics were applied. Results: The mean age of the participants was 52.38 ± 4.79 years, with a mean duration of menopause of 7.58 ± 3.81 years. The predominant symptoms were hot flashes/ sweating (65.92%) and sleep disturbances (58.51%). The mean MRSscore was 24.21 ± 14.24, corresponding to “severe” impairment. A total of 59.25% of the women reported that symptoms affected their work performance, and 32.59% had requested sick leave due to disabling illness.The likelihood of reporting adverse work performance increased with greater symptom severity (RR: 7.86; 95% CI = 4.35-12.45; p < 0.001). An annual loss of 27 million Colombian pesos was estimated for this group. Conclusions: Nurses are negatively affected at work by menopausal symptoms. Socializing menopause as part of the life cycle may help women feel better and cope positively, thereby preventing an impact on their workperformance.