Does HRT affect life-expectancy? i-checksum="22425" ends

Authors:

Paganini-Hill A. Ross RK. Henderson BE.

Institution:

Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Southern California School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA 90033-0800; United States.

Title:

Postmenopausal oestrogen treatment and stroke: A prospective study .

Source:

BMJ. Vol 297(6647) (pp19-522), 1988.

Abstract:

Study objective - To determine the postmenopausal oestrogen use affects the risk of dying from stroke.

Design:

PostalQuestionnaire survey to elicit details of estrogen replacement therapy and potential risk modifiers.

Setting:

Californian retirement community. Participants - All 22,781 residents of community (white, affluent, well educated) contacted by mail and phone; 13,986 (61%, median age 73) responded, including 8,882 women. These formed cohort for mortality follow up, using health department death certification. Only 13 lost to follow up, apparently not deceased, but 34 excluded because no information on oestrogen use. Intervention - None. End point - Mortality rate from stroke compared in women who did and did not receive oestrogen replacement treatment. Measurements and main results - Age adjusted mortality rates were computed using internal standard and four age groups. By January 1987 there had been 1,019 deaths in the cohort. Twenty out of 4,962 women who used oestrogen replacement treatment died from stroke compared with 43 out of 3,845 women who did not use oestrogen replacement treatment: relative risk 0.53, 95% confidence interval 0.31 to 0.91. Protection was found in all age groups except the youngest and was unaffected by adjustment for possible confounding factors (hypertension, smoking, alcohol, body mass index, exercise).

Conclusions:

Oestrogen replacement treatment protects against death due to stroke.

Please click on the required question.

1 HRT help me with the psychological difficulties that I am experiencing around?

2 HRT help my mental ability?

3 Can HRT reduce my chance of developing heart disease?

4 How does HRT protect against coronary heart disease?

5 If I am at particular risk of heart disease, can HRT still help?

6 Do progestogens taken in combination with oestrogen replacement therapy have an adverse effect on heart protection?

7 How long should HRT be taken to reduce the risk of heart disease?

8 Is there any evidence that HRT will protect my bones?

9 Would the dose (strength) of my HRT influence its ability to protect my bones?

10 Are there other treatments apart from HRT for osteoporosis?

11 Would HRT help my skin?

12 Can hormone replacement therapy cure all my menopausal symptoms?

13 How prevalent is cancer of the breast?

14 What factors influence the chance of breast cancer developing?

15 What is the relationship between HRT and breast cancer?

16 I have benign breast disease. Can I take HRT?

17 Does a history of breast cancer mean that HRT is absolutely contraindicated?

18 If I started HRT early (aged 30 to 45), does this influence my chance of developing breast cancer?

19 Does hormone replacement therapy increase the risks of cancer of the womb?

20 I have had endometrial cancer and now have menopausal problems. Can I take HRT?

21 Does HRT have a relationship to ovarian cancer?

22 How does HRT relate to a blood clot (DVT - deep venous thrombosis or pulmonary embolism)?

23 I have varicose veins. Can I take HRT?

24 Should HRT be discontinued before I have a major operation or leg surgery?

25 Does HRT increase life-expectancy?

26 I am still seeing periods. Could HRT have any benefits for me?

27 I have been told that I have fibroids. Can I take HRT?

28 What happens if I decide not to take HRT?

29 Doctors seem to promote HRT but the media cause me anxiety. Who is right?

30 Support Groups.

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