[In memory of Maria Orlando: physical and psychological health in menopause].
Over the last fifty years life expectancy has increased by some 15 years for both sexes, causing an overall increase in the elderly. This will lead in the near future, to a number of economic, social and health problems, particularly in developing countries, especially to women whose life expectancy, in general, is longer than men's. Indeed, globally, already at the end of the twentieth century more that 60% of the population over 75 years of age were women. Among the elderly, and in particular among women in the third and fourth age, age-specific pathologies jeopardize the quality of life of many. In the long run, there are two types of problems that greatly affect women: cardiovascular and neoplastic diseases. Today, especially in industrialized countries, hormone replacement therapy is in widespread use, even though problems connected with the long-term use of estrogens are still to be fully understood. In particular recent controlled clinical trials have questioned the effectiveness of estrogens in preventing cardiovascular diseases. In conclusion, the years after menopause that in some cases can exceed 40 years, represent a new challenge for medicine and society; this is a challenge that must be met by giving precedence to human values, such as economic and social solidarity.
Benagiano
Giuseppe
G
Dipartimento di Scienze Ginecologiche, Perinatologia e Puericultura, Università degli Studi La Sapienza, Policlinico Umberto I, V.le del Policlinico, 00161 Roma. giuseppe.benagiano@uniroma1.it
Farris
Manuela
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy; D005260:Female; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D008593:Menopause / Q000502:physiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011153:Population