Myocardial infarction and the use of estrogen and estrogen-progestogen in postmenopausal women.
OBJECTIVE
To estimate the relative risk for incident acute myocardial infarction in relation to the current use of estrogen and estrogen-progestogen.


METHODS
Retrospective case-control study.


METHODS
Medical centers of a large prepaid health care program, the Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program (KPMCP), Northern California region.


METHODS
All women hospitalized at a KPMCP center for incident acute myocardial infarction during a 3-year period from 1991 to 1994. Controls were matched to case-patients for year of birth and KPMCP facility and were selected at random from among all female members of the KPMCP.


METHODS
An in-person interview that included questions about current and lifetime use of estrogen and estrogen-progestogen; known cardiovascular risk factors; and other medical, sociodemographic and behavioral factors that might affect risk for myocardial infarction.


METHODS
Odds ratios for myocardial infarction associated with use of estrogen and estrogen-progestogen.


RESULTS
The odds ratio for myocardial infarction in current users of estrogen or estrogen-progestogen compared with women who had never used these agents was 0.96 (95% CI, 0.66 to 1.40) after adjustment for confounders. The odds ratio for myocardial infarction in past users of estrogen or estrogen-progestogen was 1.07 (CI, 0.72 to 1.58). Duration of hormone use was unrelated to the odds ratio for myocardial infarction.


CONCLUSIONS
This study did not show a statistically significant decrease in the odds ratio for myocardial infarction associated with current use of estrogen or estrogen-progestogen. It neither confirms nor refutes the hypothesis that hormone use prevents myocardial infarction in postmenopausal women.
Sidney
S
S
Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program, Division of Research, Oakland, CA 94611-5714, USA.
Petitti
D B
DB
Quesenberry
C P
CP
D000368:Aged; D002140:California / Q000453:epidemiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy; D004967:Estrogens / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D017698:Postmenopause; D011372:Progestins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors
D004967:Estrogens; D011372:Progestins