Study of Women's Health Across the Nation (SWAN)

Although we're generally familiar with the Nun Study and Massachusett's Women's Health Study (an epidemiologic investigation of menopause), SWAN (Study of Women's Health Across the Nation), is another notable longterm scientific investigation. It was constructed to examine the women's health during their middle years and has the financial backing of such agencies as the National Institutes on Aging, of Nursing Research, of Mental Health and Child Health & Human Development, among others.

Here's SWAN's background: The study began in 1994 and is in its eleventh year. Between 1996 and 1997, 3,302 participants joined SWAN through seven designated research centers. The research centers are located in the following communities: Ypsilanti and Inkster, MI (University of Michigan), Boston, MA (Massachusetts General Hospital), Chicago, IL (Rush Presbyterian-St. Luke’s Medical Center), Alameda and Contra Costa County, CA (University of California Davis and Kaiser Permanente), Los Angeles, CA (University of California at Los Angeles), Hackensack, NJ (Hackensack University Medical Center), and Pittsburgh, PA (University of Pittsburgh). SWAN participants represent five racial/ethnic groups and a variety of backgrounds and cultures.

And highlights of the study's findings: What factors increase heart disease risk?

American women who have experienced chronic stress or discrimination in their lives have more risk factors for cardiovascular disease (thicker carotid artery walls and more carotid artery plaque) than their Caucasian counterparts.

Major depression, even before menopause, predicts cardiovascular risk. Mid-life women (Caucasian and African American – the only two ethnicities studied for this project) who have a history of two or more major depressive episodes are twice as likely to have a risk factor of heart disease (like cardiovascular plaque) before menopause than women who have no history of depression, or only one episode of depression.

How do women cope with midlife changes?

One in 5 women aged 40-55 had used female hormones, including birth control pills, in the past three months. Hormone use ranged from a high of 24% in Caucasians to a low of 10% in Hispanic women.

Almost half of women aged 42-52 used some kind of complementary or alternative medical (CAM) treatment in the previous year. Women who use CAM were better educated, had higher incomes, and/or were more likely to have better health practices (not smoke, and have more physical activity) than non-users. CAM seems to be used not to treat menopausal symptoms, but simply because it is believed to promote good health.

African American women are more positive towards the idea of menopause than women of other ethnicities, and Chinese and Japanese are the least positive.

There's also a research paper entitled Sexual Functioning and Practices in a Multi-Ethnic Study of Midlife Women addressing women as they approach and begin the menopausal transition. There has been much debate on the relative impact of menopause on sexual activity.

Health, Fitness and Style, Health and Science, Senior Women Web, Tam Gray

Study of Women's Health Across the Nation (SWAN)

More Articles