title: Effects of 5 years of hormonal replacement therapy on menopausal symptoms and blood pressure-a randomised controlled study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the effects of hormonal replacement on hot flushes, other symptoms linked to menopause, and blood pressure.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included 1006 early postmenopausal women aged 45-58 years, participating in the Danish Osteoporosis Prevention Study (DOPS) randomised to Hormonal replacement therapy (HRT) (n=502) or no HRT (n=504) in an open label trial. Symptom scores were recorded at baseline, after 6 month, 1, 2, and 5 years on a modified Greene scale (range 0-4 with 0 equalling no symptoms, and 4 maximal symptoms).
  
  
  RESULTS
  HRT efficiently alleviated hot flushes (mean+/-S.E.M. score 0.48+/-0.04 in HRT vs. 0.83+/-0.05 in no HRT after 5 years, P<0.01 by repeated measures ANOVA), sleeping difficulties associated with hot flushes (0.21+/-0.60 vs. 0.37+/-0.86, P<0.01), vaginal dryness (0.45+/-0.04 vs. 0.73+/-0.05, P<0.01), dyspareunia (0.27+/-0.04 vs. 0.39+/-0.04, P<0.01), and libido (0.48+/-0.05 vs. 0.59+/-0.05, P=0.08). In the untreated group the occurrence of mood swings (from 0.77+/-0.05 at baseline to 0.45+/-0.04 after 5 years, 2P<0.01) and oedemas (from 0.59+/-0.04 to 0.43+/-0.04, 2P=0.02) decreased with age while the occurrence of incontinence increased (from 0.43+/-0.03 to 0.52+/-0.04, 2P<0.01). These changes were not influenced by HRT. Furthermore, HRT had no influence on presence of headache (0.54+/-0.05 vs. 0.58+/-0.05 after 5 years), voiding pattern (0.49+/-0.04 vs. 0.53+/-0.04), or blood pressure (mean systolic pressure 123+/-18 vs. 123+/-19, diastolic pressure 77+/-10 vs. 77+/-11).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HRT is efficient in controlling hot flushes and vaginal dryness, and symptoms related to these conditions. However, no effect on blood pressure or other menopause symptoms was recorded.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism C, The Osteoporosis Clinic, Aarhus Amtssygehus, Aarhus University Hospital, Tage Hansens Gade 2, DK-8000 C Aarhus, Denmark. p-vest@post4.tele.dk
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vestergaard
authors.forename: Anne Pernille
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Hermann
authors.forename: Lis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Stilgren
authors.forename: Charlotte Landbo
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Tofteng
authors.forename: Ole Helmer
authors.initials: OH
authors.lastname: Sørensen
authors.forename: Pia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Eiken
authors.forename: Stig Pors
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Nielsen
authors.forename: Leif
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mosekilde
mesh_terms: D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003718:Denmark; D004414:Dyspareunia / Q000188:drug therapy; D004487:Edema / Q000188:drug therapy; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D004967:Estrogens / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005242:Fecal Incontinence / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006261:Headache / Q000188:drug therapy; D019584:Hot Flashes / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000187:drug effects; D011372:Progestins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy; D014623:Vaginal Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D004967:Estrogens; D011372:Progestins