Table 2 The individual change in Likert score in 48-items of the KARISMA symptom questionnaire from baseline to end of treatment (at 6 months or date of discontinuation), contrasting the placebo to the group treated with 20 mg of tamoxifen, for all women combined and stratified by menopausal status.

From: Side effects of low-dose tamoxifen: results from a six-armed randomised controlled trial in healthy women

 

All (N = 401)

Premenopausal (n = 149)

Postmenopausal (n = 252)

Interaction menopausal status

Group

symptom

Mean change

20 to 0 mg (ref.)a

95% confidence interval

Mean change

20 to 0 mg (ref.)a

95% confidence interval

Mean change

20 to 0 mg (ref.)a

95% confidence interval

P valueb

Vasomotor

  Hot flashes

0.39

[0.19, 0.59]

0.44

[0.10, 0.79]

0.36

[0.11, 0.60]

0.694

  Cold sweats

0.35

[0.20, 0.50]

0.30

[0.06, 0.53]

0.38

[0.19, 0.58]

0.575

  Night sweats

0.45

[0.24, 0.67]

0.55

[0.16, 0.95]

0.39

[0.14, 0.64]

0.503

Gynaecological/breast

  Vaginal discharge

0.51

[0.35, 0.68]

0.41

[0.10, 0.72]

0.60

[0.41, 0.78]

0.301

  Vaginal itching/irritation

0.28

[0.12, 0.43]

0.26

[−0.01, 0.53]

0.29

[0.09, 0.49]

0.850

  Vaginal bleeding or spotting

−0.07

[−0.16, 0.02]

−0.09

[−0.32, 0.14]

−0.05

[−0.12, 0.01]

0.785

  Vaginal dryness

−0.04

[−0.23, 0.15]

0.18

[−0.07, 0.43]

−0.19

[−0.45, 0.08]

0.050

  Problems with urination

0.06

[−0.01, 0.12]

0.06

[−0.08, 0.20]

0.05

[−0.02, 0.12]

0.885

  Sensitive/tender breasts

−0.04

[−0.19, 0.10]

−0.28

[−0.56, −0.01]

0.11

[−0.05, 0.27]

0.014

Sexual

  Pain or discomfort with intercourse

0.15

[−0.04, 0.33]

0.14

[−0.07, 0.35]

0.14

[−0.13, 0.42]

0.991

  Lost interest in sex

0.07

[−0.18, 0.33]

−0.33

[−0.72, 0.07]

0.34

[0.01, 0.67]

0.011

Musculoskeletal

  Joint pain

−0.05

[−0.26, 0.15]

−0.13

[−0.43, 0.16]

0.00

[−0.27, 0.27]

0.518

  Muscle cramps

0.66

[0.47, 0.86]

0.41

[0.12, 0.70]

0.83

[0.57, 1.08]

0.034

  Numbness in hands/ feet

0.01

[−0.11, 0.13]

−0.09

[−0.27, 0.09]

0.08

[−0.08, 0.23]

0.164

Skin/subcutaneous/mucous

  Fragile mucous membranes

0.05

[−0.12, 0.22]

0.12

[−0.12, 0.36]

0.00

[−0.24, 0.23]

0.465

  Dry mouth

0.12

[0.01, 0.22]

0.15

[−0.03, 0.33]

0.09

[−0.05, 0.23]

0.608

  Skin rashes

0.16

[0.02, 0.30]

0.30

[0.04, 0.56]

0.08

[−0.08, 0.24]

0.166

  Itching

0.18

[0.05, 0.32]

0.22

[−0.02, 0.47]

0.16

[−0.01, 0.33]

0.674

  Hair loss

−0.05

[−0.21, 0.10]

−0.18

[−0.39, 0.04]

0.03

[−0.19, 0.25]

0.183

Metabolism/nutrition

  Gained weight

−0.02

[−0.22, 0.18]

−0.11

[−0.44, 0.22]

0.04

[−0.20, 0.28]

0.475

  Feeling bloated

0.04

[−0.15, 0.22]

−0.04

[−0.37, 0.29]

0.10

[−0.12, 0.31]

0.496

  Swollen arms/legs

0.04

[−0.03, 0.11]

0.07

[−0.04, 0.19]

0.02

[−0.06, 0.10]

0.436

  Abdominal obesity

−0.01

[−0.17, 0.15]

−0.01

[−0.26, 0.24]

−0.01

[−0.23, 0.20]

0.989

Gastrointestinal

  Diarrhoea

−0.16

[−0.28, −0.03]

−0.21

[−0.43, 0.01]

−0.13

[−0.28, 0.03]

0.558

  Constipation

−0.03

[−0.16, 0.10]

−0.11

[−0.33, 0.12]

0.02

[−0.14, 0.18]

0.373

  Nausea

−0.06

[−0.18, 0.06]

−0.23

[−0.47, 0.02]

0.04

[−0.09, 0.16]

0.063

  Vomiting

−0.07

[−0.15, 0.01]

−0.07

[−0.23, 0.09]

−0.08

[−0.15, 0.00]

0.956

  Lack of appetite

0.05

[0.00, 0.09]

0.08

[0.00, 0.16]

0.03

[−0.03, 0.08]

0.296

  Change in the way food taste

0.01

[−0.02, 0.04]

0.01

[−0.01, 0.04]

0.01

[−0.04, 0.06]

0.918

  Difficulty swallowing

0.00

[−0.06, 0.06]

0.00

[0.00, 0.00]

0.00

[−0.09, 0.10]

0.975

Psychological

  Mood swings

0.05

[−0.12, 0.22]

0.00

[−0.30, 0.30]

0.10

[−0.10, 0.30]

0.586

  Feeling irritable

0.07

[−0.10, 0.24]

−0.02

[−0.31, 0.26]

0.13

[−0.08, 0.35]

0.381

  Feeling nervous

−0.13

[−0.23, −0.02]

−0.17

[−0.36, 0.02]

−0.09

[−0.21, 0.03]

0.466

  Feeling sad

−0.12

[−0.28, 0.04]

−0.25

[−0.60, 0.09]

−0.03

[−0.19, 0.12]

0.265

  Worrying

0.00

[−0.16, 0.16]

−0.01

[−0.31, 0.29]

0.02

[−0.16, 0.21]

0.855

  Lack of energy

−0.07

[−0.25, 0.10]

−0.09

[−0.38, 0.20]

−0.04

[−0.26, 0.17]

0.786

  Difficulty concentrating

−0.07

[−0.19, 0.06]

−0.07

[−0.30, 0.16]

−0.05

[−0.20, 0.09]

0.900

  Sleeping difficulties

−0.16

[−0.39, 0.08]

−0.12

[−0.50, 0.27]

−0.18

[−0.48, 0.11]

0.780

  Feeling drowsy

0.02

[−0.08, 0.11]

−0.04

[−0.21, 0.14]

0.05

[−0.05, 0.16]

0.404

  “I don’t look like myself”

0.00

[−0.14, 0.13]

−0.07

[−0.29, 0.15]

0.04

[−0.13, 0.21]

0.445

Nervous system

  Pain

−0.18

[−0.40, 0.05]

−0.39

[−0.79, 0.01]

−0.06

[−0.33, 0.21]

0.177

  Dizziness

0.04

[−0.11, 0.18]

−0.04

[−0.28, 0.20]

0.09

[−0.08, 0.27]

0.366

  Headache

0.08

[−0.11, 0.27]

0.21

[−0.16, 0.57]

0.01

[−0.20, 0.22]

0.365

  Heart palpitations

0.03

[−0.09, 0.14]

0.09

[−0.10, 0.27]

−0.01

[−0.16, 0.15]

0.455

Respiratory

  Cough

0.01

[−0.15, 0.18]

−0.10

[−0.33, 0.14]

0.08

[−0.15, 0.31]

0.279

  Shortness of breath

0.07

[−0.04, 0.18]

0.13

[−0.04, 0.31]

0.04

[−0.11, 0.18]

0.404

Eyes

  Sight/eye changes

0.06

[−0.14, 0.26]

0.01

[−0.30, 0.33]

0.08

[−0.17, 0.33]

0.746

  Dry eyes

0.06

[−0.11, 0.24]

0.09

[−0.19, 0.37]

0.05

[−0.18, 0.27]

0.801

  1. aDifference in mean change comparing 20 to 0 mg (ref.) tamoxifen at end of treatment (at 6 months or date of discontinuation).
  2. bP values for interaction of menopausal status on the effect of tamoxifen.
  3. Significant values are in bold (P < 0.05).