A Digital Health Program Targeting Physical Activity among Middle-Aged Menopausal Women at Risk of Coronary Heart Disease

Physical activity is an essential component of leading a healthy lifestyle. The World Health Organisation highlights that physical activity is imperative to reduce risk of non-communicable diseases such as metabolic disease, hypertension, site-specific cancers, type-2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and all-cause mortality. Simultaneously, physical activity has shown to boost mental health, body composition, sleep, cognition and is associated with improvements to quality of life. Globally almost one third of adults are physically inactive (1.8 billion) in 2022, which directly contradicts the exercise prescription targets recommended. This target stated that physical inactivity levels needed to reduce by 15% by 2030 from the original 2010 baseline levels to maintain a healthy population in Ireland.

Physical activity has the capacity to improve health for middle-aged women, who are more likely to be physically inactive when compared to males of the same age. Menopause, a natural part of biological aging typically occuring between the ages of 45 to 55 years, can be accompanied by a myriad of physiological changes and symptoms due to a decline in circulating blood oestrogen levels. Common menopausal symptoms include hot flushes, weigh gain, sleep disturbances, night sweats, mood changes such as anxiety and depression, cognition and memory issues, joint and muscle pain, lethargy, vaginal dryness, and discomfort during sexual intercourse (NHS, 2022). Menopausal symptoms can also negatively impact physical activity for many women. This study will develop a digital health intervention aimed at enhancing physical activity for women in middle age and through the menopause stage.

Supervisors

Primary

Dr.Oonagh Giggins, NetwellCASALA

Secondary

Dr.Julie Doyle, NetwellCASALA

Expected completion date of study

October 2028