Effects of a therapeutic lifestyle modification intervention on health-related quality of life and sexual functioning and cardiometabolic health in perimenopausal Chinese women: a randomized controlled trial.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of a therapeutic lifestyle modification (TLM) intervention on health-related quality of life, sexual functioning and cardiometabolic health in perimenopausal Chinese women.

Method: The study was a randomized controlled trial (registration number: ChiCTR2300070648). Ninety-four perimenopausal women aged between 40 and 55 years were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive the TLM intervention or usual care for 12 weeks. Menopause-specific Quality of Life (MENQOL), Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), pelvic floor muscle strength (PFMS) and composite cardiometabolic indicators were evaluated at baseline and post intervention.

Results: After 12 weeks, linear mixed-effects models showed that the TLM intervention led to a statistically significant improvement in MENQOL (-0.60, 95% confidence interval [CI] - 0.80 to -0.41), FSFI (3.82, 95% CI 2.03 to 5.61), resting heart rate (-5.44, 95% CI -10.40 to -0.48), waist circumference(-3.14, 95% CI -4.15 to -2.13) and body fat percentage (-4.25, 95% CI -6.92 to -1.58) compared to the control group. There were also statistically significant differences between the intervention (TLM) group and the control group in the proportions of PFMS (p = 0.006).

Conclusion: The TLM intervention effectively improved menopause-specific quality of life in midlife women, supported by enhancements in female sexual functioning and cardiometabolic health status.