Effectiveness of digital interventions for menopausal symptoms and cardiometabolic outcomes among women undergoing the menopausal transition: A systematic review and meta-analyses.
Si Pei Chloe Goh, Ri Jie Chen, Sarah Wei Ling Li et al.
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In 30 seconds
This systematic review and meta-analysis assessed digital health interventions for menopausal symptoms and cardiometabolic outcomes in women undergoing the menopausal transition. It included 18 randomised controlled trials with 1926 participants. Pooled results showed reduced hot-flash frequency (standardised mean difference - 0.30, 95% confidence interval - 0.57 to -0.03), improved sleep quality and reduced waist circumference. Effects were not significant for several other symptom and cardiometabolic outcomes, and certainty varied from moderate to very low for the outcomes with reported benefits.
Key findings
- Hot-flash frequency decreased with digital interventions (standardised mean difference - 0.30, 95% confidence interval - 0.57 to -0.03); certainty was moderate.
- Sleep quality improved (mean difference - 3.38, 95% confidence interval - 5.56 to -1.19), with very low certainty of evidence.
- Waist circumference decreased by 2.23 cm (95% confidence interval - 3.37 to -1.09); certainty was low.
- No significant pooled effects were found for night sweats, body weight, blood pressure, lipid profiles or glycaemic outcomes.
Why it matters
Digital interventions may offer accessible support for some menopausal symptoms, with pooled evidence suggesting benefits for hot flashes and sleep, as well as a reduction in waist circumference. However, evidence certainty is limited for several outcomes, and the review found no significant pooled effects across many cardiometabolic measures. These findings help distinguish promising symptom outcomes from broader benefits that remain unestablished.
What to keep in mind
Evidence certainty ranged from moderate to very low for outcomes with reported benefits, and evidence for broader cardiometabolic effects was limited. The review calls for longer-duration trials with clearly defined populations and standardised, objective measures where feasible.