Quality of life of postmenopausal women on a regimen of transdermal estradiol therapy: a double-blind placebo-controlled study.
OBJECTIVE
The effect of transdermal estradiol and placebo therapy on the quality of life of postmenopausal women was compared in a randomized trial over 12 weeks.


METHODS
Two hundred forty-two women were randomized, and 223 were analyzed for efficacy (n = 112 for estradiol and n = 111 for placebo). The quality of life was assessed by means of a battery of standard questionnaires.


RESULTS
Quality of life improved after both therapies, but health-related quality of life (p = 0.0003) and well being (p = 0.003) improved more after transdermal estradiol therapy than after placebo. This was also the case for all specific climacteric aspects, including sexual problems (p < 0.0001) and dysfunction (p = 0.01), at comparison with placebo. Self-rated symptom relief was more pronounced with estrogen therapy than with placebo (p < 0.0001).


CONCLUSIONS
It was concluded that estradiol therapy was superior to placebo in relieving symptoms and improving quality of life.
Wiklund
I
I
Department of Medicine, Göteborg University, Sweden.
Karlberg
J
J
Mattsson
L A
LA
D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000368:Aged; D002979:Climacteric; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004958:Estradiol / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008593:Menopause; D008875:Middle Aged; D010919:Placebos; D011788:Quality of Life; D014592:Uterine Hemorrhage / Q000139:chemically induced
D010919:Placebos; D004958:Estradiol