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

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