The Menopause Rating Scale (MRS): comparison with Kupperman index and quality-of-life scale SF-36

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate further the Menopause Rating Scale (MRS) for scoring menopausal symptoms by comparison with other instruments relevant for women in their menopausal transition: the Kupperman index and the quality-of-life scale SF-36. METHOD: A population sample of 306 women, who had been randomly selected from an initially representative survey of German women (aged 40-60), completed three questionnaires in 1997: the Menopause Rating Scale (MRS), the Kupperman index and the short form-36 (SF-36). RESULTS: A comparison of the MRS with the Kupperman index produced a high correlation of raw scores (r = 0.91). The highest association of scores (80%) was found in the highest quartile of the MRS. The terms 'mild', 'moderate' and 'severe', relating to the degree of severity of menopausal symptoms, reflect different contents and spread in each scale, i.e. are not directly comparable. There is a strikingly good association between the subscales of the SF-36 and the MRS. The MRS correlates best with those dimensions of the SF-36 that are highly relevant for women in the menopausal transition. For this reason, the MRS can be utilized as an age- and condition-specific quality-of-life instrument. CONCLUSIONS: The Menopause Rating Scale is a valuable modern tool for the assessment of menopausal complaints. It combines in practice excellent applicability and good reliability, and there are normal values for the population available. The MRS could serve as an adequate diagnostic instrument for menopausal quality of life.