Health-related behavior and the use of hormone replacement therapy.
OBJECTIVE
To study health-related differences between hormone replacement therapy (HRT) users and nonusers among colorectal cases and women without diagnosed cancer.


METHODS
Data from the Saskatchewan Health population-based databases were used to ascertain the use of HRT, oral contraceptives (OCs), cardiovascular system (CVS) drugs, central nervous system (CNS) drugs, prescribed NSAIDs and vitamins among 3338 women diagnosed with colorectal cancer and 13025 women without diagnosed cancer. Physician visits and sigmoidoscopy procedures were also determined.


RESULTS
Among women without diagnosed cancer, HRT was associated with CVS drugs (OR = 1.23, 95%CI: 1.10-1.37), CNS drugs (OR = 1.96, 95% CI: 1.72-2.23), other hormones (OR = 1.12, 95% CI: 1.01-1.24), prescribed vitamins (OR = 1.37, 95% CI: 1.22-1.55), NSAIDs (OR = 1.41, 95% CI: 1.18-1.68), having had a sigmoidoscopy 3-5 years prior to index dates (OR = 1.33, 95% CI: 1.12-1.59) and 15 or more visits to physicians during the 5th year prior to assigned index date (OR = 2.0, 95% CI: 1.77-2.35). Similar results were observed among women diagnosed with colorectal cancer, but HRT use was not associated with having had a sigmoidoscopy.


CONCLUSIONS
Health-related characteristics of HRT users and nonusers are identified and described. Some of these factors may contribute to selection bias in studies examining the health benefits of HRT.
Csizmadi
Ilona
I
Centre for Clinical Epidemiology, S.M.B.D. Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. ilona.csizmadi@cancerboard.ab.ca
Collet
Jean-Paul
JP
Boivin
Jean-François
JF
Hanley
James A
JA
Benedetti
Andrea
A
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002317:Cardiovascular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002491:Central Nervous System Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009819:Office Visits / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D012525:Saskatchewan / Q000453:epidemiology; D012812:Sigmoidoscopy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014815:Vitamins / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D002317:Cardiovascular Agents; D002491:Central Nervous System Agents; D014815:Vitamins