Symptom reporting and quality of life in the Estonian Postmenopausal Hormone Therapy Trial.
BACKGROUND
The aim of the study was to determine the effect of postmenopausal hormone therapy on women's symptom reporting and quality of life in a randomized trial.


METHODS
1823 women participated in the Estonian Postmenopausal Hormone Therapy (EPHT) Trial between 1999 and 2004. Women were randomized to open-label continuous combined hormone therapy or no treatment, or to blind hormone therapy or placebo. The average follow-up period was 3.6 years. Prevalence of symptoms and quality of life according to EQ-5D were assessed by annually mailed questionnaires.


RESULTS
In the hormone therapy arms, less women reported hot flushes (OR 0.20; 95% CI: 0.14-0.28), sweating (OR 0.56; 95% CI: 0.44-0.72), and sleeping problems (OR 0.66; 95% CI: 0.52-0.84), but more women reported episodes of vaginal bleeding (OR 19.65; 95% CI: 12.15-31.79). There was no difference between the trial arms in the prevalence of other symptoms over time. Quality of life did not depend on hormone therapy use.


CONCLUSIONS
Postmenopausal hormone therapy decreased vasomotor symptoms and sleeping problems, but increased episodes of vaginal bleeding, and had no effect on quality of life.


BACKGROUND
ISRCTN35338757.
Veerus
Piret
P
Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, National Institute for Health Development, Hiiu 42, 11619 Tallinn, Estonia. piret.veerus@tai.ee
Fischer
Krista
K
Hovi
Sirpa-Liisa
SL
Karro
Helle
H
Rahu
Mati
M
Hemminki
Elina
E
D000284:Administration, Oral; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004957:Estonia / Q000453:epidemiology; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy; D004967:Estrogens / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D019584:Hot Flashes / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D017258:Medroxyprogesterone Acetate / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D008875:Middle Aged; D017698:Postmenopause; D015995:Prevalence; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012647:Self-Assessment; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D004967:Estrogens; D017258:Medroxyprogesterone Acetate