Association between current major depressive episode and the occurrence of menstrual irregularities in the last six months in university students in Lima, Peru

Abstract

Objectives. To evaluate whether there is an association between current major depressive episode (CMDE) and menstrual irregularities (MI), including amenorrhea, oligomenorrhea, or polymenorrhea, in Peruvian university students in 2024. Materials and methods. An observational, cross-sectional, and analytical study was conducted on students from a private university in Lima, Peru. The Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ-9) was used to identify a CMDE, and a survey with closed-ended questions was used to identify cases of MI. The measure  of association was the prevalence ratio (PR), derived  from Poisson regression models, both crude and adjusted for potential confounding factors. Results. A total of 250 women between 18 and 30 years of age participated (median age: 20 years, interquartile range from 19 to 21 years). 73.2% presented at least one MI (amenorrhea, oligomenorrhea, or polymenorrhea) and 70.8% had CMDE of any grade (29.2% mild and 41.6% moderate-severe). Compared to students without CMDE, the occurrence of any MI was more likely in those  students with moderate-severe CMDE (aPR=1.33; 95% CI: 1.08-1.62; p=0.006), but was not different regarding those with mild CMDE (aPR=1.20; 95% CI: 0.95-1.5; p=0.112). Conclusions. MIs and CMDE are frequent in university students. Moderate-severe CMDE was associated with a higher risk of MI. Future longitudinal studies will allow for the establishment of temporality and other relevant aspects to assess a possible causal relationship between MI and CMDE, including the specific relationship with each type of MI.