Influences of hormone replacement therapy on postmenopausal women's health perceptions.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the beliefs of climacteric women regarding their health, menopause, and hormone replacement therapy (HRT).


METHODS
Medical students asked to interview 526 healthy women, ranging from 40 to 64 years of age, between January and February of 2002. Of that number, 26 (4.9%) declined to participate in the interview. Thus, 500 women were interviewed about their beliefs and perceptions regarding their quality of life and health risks, as well as their opinions on menopause and HRT.


RESULTS
The mean age of the sample was 53.3 +/- 6.2 years; 83.4% were postmenopausal, and 18.8% were HRT users. Of the women interviewed, 38.6% believed that their health was good. Although 78.8% thought that cancer is the main cause of death, 64% of them considered themselves to be at high risk for cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis. Most (64%) believed that menopause deteriorates the quality of life and that it increases cardiovascular risk (52.4%) and osteoporosis (72.0%). The HRT users perceived that they had better health status (48.9% v 36.2%, P < 0.02) and smaller cardiovascular risk (54.3% v 66.3%, P < 0.04) than did the nonusers; however, they ignored the preventive effect of estrogens in osteoporosis.


CONCLUSIONS
Women believe that menopause deteriorates their health. The HRT users perceived themselves to be healthier and to have a smaller risk for cardiovascular disease.
Blümel
Juan E
JE
Fundación PROSAM, Hospital Barros Luco-Trudeau, Departmento Medicina Sur. Facultad Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
Castelo-Branco
Camil
C
Kerrigan
Nicolas
N
Cancelo
María J
MJ
Blümel
Bernardita
B
Haya
Javier
J
Flores
Mariana
M
Carvajal
Maria Carolina
MC
Sarrá
Salvador
S
D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000523:psychology*; D011788:Quality of Life; D018570:Risk Assessment; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires