[Individual factors and mortality associated with hormone replacement therapy in a French cohort of women from 60 to 69 years of age].
OBJECTIVE
Given the specificity of French postmenopausal hormonal replacement therapy, we study the link with overall mortality.


METHODS
A cohort of 1200 women from 60 to 69 years of age was followed up from 2001 to 2009. We computerized from the health care repayment database the current reimbursement of behind-the-counter hormonal therapy. We sent a questionnaire to identify their lifetime history of hormone use. We test whether current and former users have higher risk of death from all cause combined. We adjusted the survival analysis on the individuals factors associated to the hormone use. The statistical methods Kaplan-Meier curves in univariate analysis and Cox Regression Model in multivariate analysis were used.


RESULTS
Current users present a reduced all-cause mortality rate while former users have a higher all-cause mortality rate. This trend suggests a "healthy estrogen user survivor effect" bias. After adjustment on confounding factors, hormonal users do not have a statistically significant increased risk of overall mortality.


CONCLUSIONS
Postmenopausal hormone replacement therapy is not linked with mortality for women from 60 to 69 years of age covered by the self-employed workers health and retirement French insurance fund.
Ha-Vinh
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P
Service médical de la caisse régionale Provence Alpes du régime social des indépendants, 29, boulevard de Dunkerque, 13002 Marseille, France. philippe.ha-vinh@provencealpes.le-rsi.fr
Clavaud
H
H
Sauze
L
L
D000368:Aged; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D020249:Hormone Replacement Therapy / Q000401:mortality*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000187:drug effects*; D012307:Risk Factors; D016019:Survival Analysis