A prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled study of the dose effect of oral oestradiol on menopausal symptoms, psychological well being, and quality of life in postmenopausal Chinese women.
OBJECTIVE
Hypoestrogenism occurring in association with the menopause may result in the development of vasomotor symptoms and it may also have a detrimental effect on psychological well being and quality of life (QOL). The aims of this study were to measure menopausal symptoms, mood and QOL in postmenopausal Chinese women and to assess the effect of different doses of oestrogen on these outcome indicators.


METHODS
A prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled study of the effect of 1 and 2 mg oestradiol on menopausal symptoms, anxiety and depressive symptoms, and QOL in 152 postmenopausal women over a 12 month study period. Menopausal symptoms were measured using a modified Kupperman's scale. Anxiety and depressive symptoms and QOL were measured using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scales and a modification of the World Health Organization Quality of Life questionnaire, respectively.


RESULTS
Baseline scoring of vasomotor symptoms in our population was low whilst QOL scoring was relatively high. Over 12 months, after adjustment for differences in baseline scoring, there was a significant reduction in menopausal symptom scores in the 2 mg oestradiol group compared with placebo but not in the 1 mg group. There were no statistically significant changes in levels of anxiety and depression or QOL in either the 1 or the 2 mg group compared with placebo.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that relatively few Chinese women will be expected to benefit from hormone replacement in terms of either QOL or mood. In addition, the overall benefit of treatment for vasomotor symptoms will be less for a given number of Chinese women than for Caucasians. Therefore, when considering the reasons for prescribing hormone replacement therapy in this population, protection against osteoporosis will for most women be the prime consideration.
Haines
Christopher J
CJ
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, New Territories, Hong Kong, PR China. cjhaines@cuhk.edu.hk
Yim
So Fan
SF
Chung
Tony K H
TK
Lam
Christopher W K
CW
Lau
Edith W C
EW
Ng
Margaret H L
MH
Chin
Robert
R
Lee
Dominic T S
DT
D001007:Anxiety; D002681:China; D003863:Depression; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004958:Estradiol / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008593:Menopause / Q000523:psychology*; D017698:Postmenopause; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life
D004958:Estradiol