P079 Effect of sleepwear fibre type on menopausal sleep quality – Study protocol and preliminary data

Abstract

Abstract Introduction Vasomotor symptoms and sleep disturbances are common in menopausal women. Different fabric types affect thermal comfort through moisture absorption and thermal insulation. This study examined the impact of cotton and wool sleepwear on menopausal women’s sleep quality. Methods This is a randomized, crossover, repeated-measures and triple-blinded trial comparing the sleep quality and vasomotor symptoms of healthy menopausal women between cotton and wool sleepwear at 30°C, 50% relative humidity. Participants undergo 6 laboratory visits. After a screening visit and a familiarization night, participants are randomized to 4 nights (2 nights in cotton and 2 nights in wool sleepwear) during which polysomnography and actigraphy recordings are taken including objective hot flush events, room temperature and relative humidity measurements, as well as subjective questionnaires on clothing comfort, mood and vasomotor symptoms. Results Eleven participants (age 51.2±4.7 years, BMI 26.8±2.9 kg.m-2, Insomnia Severity Index 11.1±5.5) completed all six visits so far. Reasons for exclusion: 3 didn’t have vasomotor symptoms; 1 on HRT, 5 had severe sleep disturbances, 3 on medications, 4 had diabetes, 1 asthma, and 1 had BMI>30. All sleep-related outcomes are pending analysis (blinding). Discussion Recruitment is a major study challenge. Many participants found it hard to arrange a time to attend overnight studies due to family/work commitments. The COVID-19 pandemic changed people’s attitude as some were hesitant to attend the laboratory. Menopause transition status is an important time during women’s lifespan. Effective management, e.g., through appropriate sleepwear, would be helpful to improve menopausal women’s symptom and quality of life.