title: Benefits and risks of postmenopausal hormone therapy when it is initiated soon after menopause.
abstract: The authors further analyzed results from the Women's Health Initiative randomized trials (1993-2004) of conjugated equine estrogens, with or without medroxyprogesterone acetate, focusing on health benefits versus risks among women who initiated hormone therapy soon after menopause. Data from the Women's Health Initiative observational study (1993-2004) were included in some analyses for additional precision. Results are presented here for incident coronary heart disease, stroke, venous thromboembolism, breast cancer, colorectal cancer, endometrial cancer, or hip fracture; death from other causes; a summary global index; total cancer; and total mortality. Hazard ratios for breast cancer and total cancer were comparatively higher (P < 0.05) among women who initiated hormone therapy soon after menopause, for both regimens. Among these women, use of conjugated equine estrogens appeared to produce elevations in venous thromboembolism and stroke and a reduction in hip fracture. Estrogen plus progestin results among women who initiated use soon after menopause were similar for venous thromboembolism, stroke, and hip fracture but also included evidence of longer-term elevations in breast cancer, total cancer, and the global index. These analyses provide little support for the hypothesis of favorable effects among women who initiate postmenopausal estrogen use soon after menopause, either for coronary heart disease or for health benefits versus risk indices considered.
authors.affiliation: Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle,Washington 98109-1024, USA. rprentic@fhcrc.org
authors.forename: Ross L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Prentice
authors.forename: Joann E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Manson
authors.forename: Robert D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Langer
authors.forename: Garnet L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pettinger
authors.forename: Rebecca D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Jackson
authors.forename: Karen C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Lewis H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Kuller
authors.forename: Dorothy S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Lane
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wactawski-Wende
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Brzyski
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Allison
authors.forename: Judith
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ockene
authors.forename: Gloria
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sarto
authors.forename: Jacques E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Rossouw
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology; D003271:Contraceptive Agents, Female / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D016889:Endometrial Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004967:Estrogens / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004966:Estrogens, Conjugated (USP) / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D017258:Medroxyprogesterone Acetate / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008593:Menopause; D008875:Middle Aged; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000187:drug effects*; D011372:Progestins / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000453:epidemiology; D015996:Survival Rate / Q000639:trends; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D013997:Time Factors; D014861:Washington / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D003271:Contraceptive Agents, Female; D004967:Estrogens; D004966:Estrogens, Conjugated (USP); D011372:Progestins; D017258:Medroxyprogesterone Acetate