title: Cardiovascular risk factors in a cohort of Danish women born in 1936 prior to use of hormone therapy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Many observational studies suggest hormone therapy protects against coronary heart disease in contrast to findings from large randomised clinical trials and an observational Danish study. A potential bias in the observational literature concerning the cardiovascular risk and benefits associated with use of hormone therapy is the so-called 'healthy user' phenomenon, i.e. self-selection to HT use is associated with healthier cardiovascular risk profile. This study investigates whether a random sample of Danish women using HT was characterised by a favourable cardiovascular risk profile prior to menopause.
  
  
  METHODS
  A sample of 621 women born in 1936 living in Copenhagen County was included in a prospective population-based study initiated in 1976 with follow-ups in 1981, 1987 and 1996. Investigations comprised questionnaires and physical examinations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At 51 and 60 years, respectively, one-third and one-half had ever used HT. At 40 years women who subsequently use HT had lower body mass index, lower self-rated health and lower fasting glucose, but no differences according to blood pressure, cholesterol, triglyceride, physical activity, smoking habits or alcohol consumption.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In a cohort of Danish women from the general population ever users of HT could not be characterised as unambiguous 'healthy users'.
authors.affiliation: Juliane Marie Center, Rigshospitalet, Kettegaard Alle 30, Hvidovre 2650, Denmark. ellen.loekkegaard@hh.hosp.dk
authors.forename: Ellen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Løkkegaard
authors.forename: Lene Falgaard
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Eplov
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Køster
authors.forename: Karin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Garde
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology; D016015:Logistic Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D002784:Cholesterol