Life prevalence and determinants of hormone replacement therapy in women living in Porto, Portugal.
OBJECTIVE
To survey the life prevalence and determinants of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) in Portugal.


METHODS
We evaluated 908 women with mean age (standard deviation) 62.3 (9.6) years, as part of the assembling of a cohort of adults, representative of Porto inhabitants. Extensive data collection was conducted and included socio-demographic, lifestyle and clinical characterisation. The latter comprised gynecologic and obstetric history, as well as lifetime use and duration of HRT.


RESULTS
Life prevalence of hormone replacement therapy was 26.8% (95% confidence interval: 23.9-29.8). Prevalence of lifetime HRT was higher in younger (born after 1949: 37.1%) and more educated women (over 12 schooling years: 48.7%), as in white-collar workers (36.8%), and women using private healthcare (39.4%). HRT use was also more frequent among ever smokers (43.1%), and in women reporting regular sports practice (35.6%). Ever users of oral contraceptives underwent HRT more frequently (33.3%) and women who experienced menopause more recently were more likely to use HRT (after 1994: 40.5%). No differences were found in the prevalence of HRT according to whether women had been hysterectomised or oophorectomised. Education, regular sports practice and menopause year were independent determinants of HRT. Median duration of therapy was 2 years. Short-term HRT users were more educated, and had more recent menopause. Long-term HRT users were more educated, engaged in sports more frequently, and were more frequently oophorectomised.


CONCLUSIONS
Prevalence of hormone replacement therapy increased until 2001 and was mainly determined by high socioeconomic status, regardless of important therapeutic indications, such as oophorectomy and hysterectomy.
Lucas
Raquel
R
Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology, University of Porto Medical School, Alameda Prof. Hernani Monteiro, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal. rlucas@med.up.pt
Barros
Henrique
H
D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008593:Menopause; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D011174:Portugal / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires