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Correlation of clinical aspects and levels of depression with elevated cortisol levels in perimenopausal women of Buginese and Javanese ethnicity
Hidayatullah H.
Gazzetta Medica Italiana Archivio Per Le Scienze Mediche
Q4Abstract
BACKGROUND: Studies exploring the impact of ethnicity on perimenopausal symptoms among Indonesian women are scarce. The diverse attitudes, norms, customs, and dietary practices among the Javanese and Buginese populations influence the management of menopause. This study seeks to examine the clinical aspects, levels of depression, and cortisol elevation in perimenopausal women of Buginese and Javanese descent.METHODS: Utilizing a cross-sectional design, this study employed purposive sampling to collect primary data. Saliva samples were gathered from 40 individuals within each group, comprising Buginese individuals from Bone Regency, South Sulawesi, and Javanese individuals from Gunung Kidul Regency, Yogyakarta.RESULTS: This study found no significant disparity in age, education level, income, parity, Body Mass Index (BMI), age at the onset of perimenopause, or cortisol levels between Buginese and Javanese ethnicities. The predominant clinical symptoms reported across both groups included neck and head pain, muscle and joint stiffness, frequent forgetfulness, hot flushes, heart palpitations, sleep disorders, numbness in extremities, cold sensations in hands and feet, easy fatigue, and excessive sweating. Noteworthy, cortisol levels were slightly higher in the Javanese ethnic group (6.71±4.27 μg/dL) compared to the Buginese group, although this variance did not reach statistical significance. Furthermore, none of the sampled individuals reported experiencing depression, and cortisol was not found to have a significant impact on the observed clinical symptoms.CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights differences in clinical aspects between the Buginese and Javanese, notably in symptoms such as frequent forgetfulness, palpitations, sensations of coldness in hands or feet, and weight gain. Palpitations is the most prevalent clinical symptom in both Buginese and Javanese.