Insomnia in menopause

Chronic insomnia or disturbed sleep is one of the more distressing symptoms of menopause, with a prevalence estimated to be in excess of 40% of women between the ages of 45 and 65 years. Untreated chronic insomnia is associated with long-term conditions including depression, cancer and cardiovascular disease. There are many approaches suggested to reduce sleep problems during menopause but there is little guidance regarding which intervention works best for which individuals.  This project will investigate the risks and benefits of these approaches by conducting a systematic review and network meta-analysis of the literature and draw evidence from real world data including large GP patient record databases.

Potential research questions
- What is the prevalence of chronic insomnia in menopause observed in the UK General Practice population?
- What evidence exists for the risks and benefits of treatments such as hormone replacement therapy and antidepressants?
- What long-term risks and benefits of treatments are observed in routine electronic health record data?
- Methods will include a systematic review, network meta-analysis and causal inference epidemiology using routine electronic health records from large databases such as the CPRD or QResearch.  

The Research Team
The student will work with leading statisticians and epidemiologists in the Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences.

Who should apply?
The project will suit a student with a background in medical statistics and previous experience of large databases. Candidates will be expected to hold a good undergraduate degree (or Masters) in a relevant subject (such as statistics, mathematics, evidence-based health care).