Optimizing the Management of Menopause-Related Chronic Diseases in Rural Settings: A Closed-Loop “Screening-Prevention-Treatment” Model to Promote Healthy Aging – A Descriptive Study

Background: In rural regions, menopausal symptoms frequently coexist with chronic comorbidities (bone metabolism, cardiovascular, psychological, and urogenital disorders). A structural contradiction of high disease burden, low healthcare utilization, and fragmented management persists due to complex multidimensional barriers. Objective: This study evaluates a closed-loop “screening-prevention-treatment” pathway shifting the management focus from isolated symptom relief to comprehensive control of menopause-related chronic disease clusters in resource-constrained rural settings. Methodology: A retrospective descriptive study evaluated a real-world implementation in Changshan County, integrating proactive screening into public health projects via a collaborative network. Data from 10,224 women were extracted from electronic records. The protocol used the modified Kupperman Index and sex hormone profiling for risk stratification to guide targeted interventions—from lifestyle modifications to menopausal hormone therapy (MHT)—with long-term digital follow-up. Results: Among 10,224 screened women, 2910 (28.46%) exhibited abnormal sex hormones. Of 1995 symptomatic women, 626 initiated interventions (31.37% treatment initiation rate). MHT uptake correlated with symptom severity, reaching 65.50% in the moderate and 100% in the severe group (Kupperman > 30). The diagnosis-to-treatment conversion rate reached 72.09% in women aged 40– 45 years. The screening yielded pleiotropic benefits, incidentally identifying 11.8 non-target abnormalities (eg, renal/hepatic dysfunction) per 100 screened women. Conclusion: This closed-loop model effectively addresses fragmented care for rural menopausal women. Utilizing active screening and risk stratification significantly improves diagnostic conversion rates and resource efficiency, providing a replicable framework for managing menopause-related comorbidities and promoting healthy aging in grassroots settings. Keywords: menopause, healthy aging, rural health, chronic disease management, screening, closed-loop management