Hormone replacement therapy and incident arthritis.
OBJECTIVE
This article provides estimates of the incidence of arthritis between 1994/95 and 1996/97 among women aged 38 or older. It also examines the association between hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and a new diagnosis of arthritis by 1996/97.


METHODS
The data are from the household component of the National Population Health Survey, conducted by Statistics Canada. Results are based on a sample of 2,673 female respondents who reported that they did not have arthritis in 1994/95. This sample, when weighted, represents 4.3 million women.


METHODS
Two-year incidence of arthritis was estimated using weighted bivariate frequencies. Associations of arthritis with HRT use and numerous covariates were examined using multivariate logistic regression.


RESULTS
In the two years between 1994/95 and 1996/97, about 8% of women (338,600) aged 38 or older were newly diagnosed with arthritis. The odds of incident arthritis for current HRT users who had used hormones for five years or longer were twice as high as for non-users. These results persisted even after controlling for potential confounders including age, number of medical visits, and body mass index.
Wilkins
K
K
Health Statistics Division, Statistics Canada, Ottawa. wilkkat@statcan.ca
D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D020249:Hormone Replacement Therapy; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D016015:Logistic Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008875:Middle Aged; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D016387:Women's Health