Health outcomes associated with hormone therapy in Australian women.
The risks and benefits of hormone therapy (HT) in the treatment of postmenopausal women remain controversial. In this population-based, observational study, we documented health outcomes among postmenopausal Australian women using HT. Women aged 60-80 years were recruited into the Geelong Osteoporosis Study 1994-7 and followed over a median period of 6.6 years. Mortality, and the development of vascular events, breast and colorectal cancers were documented for 67 HT-users and 521 non-users. Median duration of HT-use was 5.0 years (IQR 3.0-10.0). There was no excess in all-cause mortality associated with HT-use. Based on 92 deaths (six HT-users, 86 non-users), the adjusted odds ratio (OR) for all-cause mortality was 0.79 (95%CI 0.32-1.97). With 99 reports of vascular events (13 HT-users, 86 non-users), the adjusted OR for vascular events was 1.30 (95%CI 0.66-2.57). There were insufficient numbers of breast or colorectal cancer cases (21 breast cancer cases, all non-HT users; and 7 colorectal cancer cases, one HT-user and six non-users) to adequately calculate the risk associated with exposure to HT. Although the sample size was small, these results do not support an association between HT and mortality, despite a possible link between HT and increased risk of developing vascular disease.
Pasco
Julie A
JA
The University of Melbourne, Department of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences: Barwon Health, Victoria, Australia. juliep@barwonhealth.org.au
Kotowicz
Mark A
MA
Henry
Margaret J
MJ
Sanders
Kerrie M
KM
Nicholson
Geoffrey C
GC
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology* / Q000401:mortality; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology* / Q000401:mortality; D015986:Confounding Factors, Epidemiologic; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000401:mortality; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011159:Population Surveillance; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D014652:Vascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000401:mortality; D014739:Victoria / Q000453:epidemiology; D016387:Women's Health