Accurate categorisation of menopausal status for research studies: a step-by-step guide and detailed algorithm considering age, self-reported menopause and factors potentially masking the occurrence of menopause

Table 1 Self-reported and consolidated derived menopausal status for women in the 45 and Up Study

Menopausal status	Post-menopause	Peri-menopause	Pre-menopause	Unknown
Menopausal status	n (% total; % change compared to self-report)	n (% total; % change compared to self-report)	n (% total; % change compared to self-report)	n (% total; % change compared to self-report)
Self-reported	93,107 (65.1)	9,076 (6.4)	17,930 (12.5)	22,860 (16.0)
Consolidated—reference method^a	105,817 (74.0%; + 8.9%)	10,785 (7.5%; + 1.2%)	15,582 (10.9%; − 1.6%)	10,789 (7.6%; − 8.4%)
Consolidated—conservative method^b	102,008 (71.4%; + 6.2%)	10,785 (7.5%; + 1.2%)	15,582 (10.9%; − 1.6%)	14,598 (10.2%; − 5.8%)
Consolidated—least-conservative method^c	107,394 (75.1%; + 10.0%)	10,785 (7.5%; + 1.2%)	15,582 (10.9%; − 1.6%)	9,212 (6.4%; − 9.6%)
Consolidated—reference method without re-classifying women with detailed “unknown” status	92,629 (62.7%; − 0.3%)	10,785 (7.5%; + 1.2%)	15,582 (10.9%; − 1.6%)	23,977 (16.8%; + 0.8%)
Consolidated—conservative method without re-classifying women with detailed “unknown” status	89,683 (65.6%; − 2.4%)	10,785 (7.5%; + 1.2%)	15,582 (10.9%; − 1.6%)	26,923 (18.8%; + 2.8%)
Consolidated—least-conservative method without re-classifying women with detailed “unknown” status	93,849 (65.6%; + 0.5%)	10,785 (7.5%; + 1.2%)	15,582 (10.9%; − 1.6%)	22,757 (15.9%; − 0.1%)

^aUnknown or possibly masked status re-classified to “post-menopause” status for women aged ≥ 55 years at baseline
^bUnknown or possibly masked status re-classified to “post-menopause” status for women aged ≥ 57 years at baseline
^cUnknown or possibly masked status re-classified to “post-menopause” status for women aged ≥ 54 years at baseline

ISSN: 1756-0500