scholarly journals Hormone replacement therapy use in UK general practice: Duration, discontinuation and women’s experience

2016 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 155-164 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pippa Anderson ◽  
Caroline O’Leary ◽  
Margaret Moffat ◽  
Xuemei Luo

Objective Investigate characteristics of women treated with combined estrogen and progestogen hormone replacement therapy (study-HRT); HRT patterns; reasons and outcomes associated with HRT discontinuation. Study design Retrospective observational study using The Health Improvement Network database examining women’s characteristics and treatment patterns (Database). Postal questionnaire exploring reasons and outcomes associated with HRT discontinuation (Survey). Main outcome measures Database: Demographic and clinical characteristics. HRT patterns, time from diagnosis to treatment, duration of treatment, type of treatment and change of treatment (switch, add-on, re-start and discontinuation). Survey: HRT therapy status, menopause rating scale and reasons for discontinuation. Results Database: 8968 women prescribed study-HRT between January 2006 and January 2010 were matched 1:1 on GP practice and age with women not prescribed HRT. Women prescribed study-HRT were more likely to be a current/past smoker ( p<0.05) and experienced higher levels of co-morbidities related to menopause ( p < 0.05) versus women not prescribed HRT. Treatment duration was approximately 14 months and 95% changed treatment during the study. Survey: 116 respondents. Women on HRT had lower MRS scores ( p < 0.05) than women who discontinued HRT. Main reasons for discontinuation were medical advice, side-effects/potential side-effects. Fear of breast cancer was also stated as a reason. Conclusions Duration of HRT was relatively short, with 95% of women changing treatment. HRT discontinuation was associated with more severe menopause symptoms. Medical advice and concerns about side-effects were major reasons for the discontinuation, suggesting that there was a need for a balanced dialogue with women about risks and benefits of HRT, as emphasised by NICE guidance.

Author(s):  
Nurunnahar Akter ◽  
Elena Kulinskaya ◽  
Nicholas Steel ◽  
Ilyas Bakbergenuly

Objective: To estimate the effect of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) on the hazards of overall and age-specific all-cause mortality in women aged 46 to 65 at first prescription. Design: Matched cohort study. Setting: Electronic primary care records from The Health Improvement Network (THIN) database, UK (1984−2017). Population: 105,199 cases and 224,643 controls matched on age and general practice (GP). Methods: Parametric Weibull-Cox regression model adjusted for age at first treatment, type of HRT, birth year, type 2 diabetes, hypertension and its treatments, coronary heart disease, oophorectomy/hysterectomy, body mass index, smoking, and deprivation status. Main outcome measures: All-cause mortality. Results: The adjusted hazard ratio (HR) of overall all-cause mortality in combined HRT users was 0.91 (95%CI 0.88−0.94), and in oestrogen-only users was 0.99 (0.93−1.07), respectively, compared to non-users. Age-specific adjusted HRs for all-cause mortality in groups aged 46-50, 51-55, 56-60, and 61-65 years at first treatment were 0.98 (0.92−1.04), 0.87 (0.82−0.92), 0.88 (0.82−0.93), and 0.92 (0.85−0.98), in combined HRT users compared to non-users, and 1.01 (0.84−1.21), 1.03 (0.89−1.18), 0.98 (0.86−1.12), and 0.93 (0.81−1.07) in oestrogen-only users, respectively. Conclusions: Oestrogen-only HRT has no impact on all-cause mortality, but combined HRT reduced the risks. This new information on the long-term risks and benefits of HRT should be used to inform women deciding whether to start or continue with HRT. Funding: IFoA. Keywords: Hormone replacement therapy, menopause, mortality, primary care records. Tweetable abstract: Oestrogen-only HRT is not associated with all-cause mortality and combined HRT reduces the risks.


Author(s):  
Nurunnahar Akter ◽  
Elena Kulinskaya ◽  
Nicholas Steel ◽  
Ilyas Bakbergenuly

Objective: To estimate the effect of oestrogen-only and combined hormone replacement therapy (HRT) on the hazards of overall and age-specific all-cause mortality in healthy women aged 46 to 65 at first prescription. Design: Matched cohort study. Setting: Electronic primary care records from The Health Improvement Network (THIN) database, UK (1984−2017). Population: 105,199 HRT users (cases) and 224,643 non-users (controls) matched on age and general practice. Methods: Weibull-Double-Cox regression models adjusted for age at first treatment, birth cohort, type 2 diabetes, hypertension and hypertension treatment, coronary heart disease, oophorectomy/hysterectomy, body mass index, smoking, and deprivation status. Main outcome measures: All-cause mortality. Results: A total of 21,751 women died over an average of 13.5 years follow-up per participant, of whom 6,329 were users and 15,422 non-users. The adjusted hazard ratio (HR) of overall all-cause mortality in combined HRT users was 0.91 (95%CI 0.88−0.94), and in oestrogen-only users was 0.99 (0.93−1.07), compared to non-users. Age-specific adjusted HRs for participants aged 46-50, 51-55, 56-60, and 61-65 years at first treatment were 0.98 (0.92−1.04), 0.87 (0.82−0.92), 0.88 (0.82−0.93), and 0.92 (0.85−0.98), for combined HRT users compared to non-users, and 1.01 (0.84−1.21), 1.03 (0.89−1.18), 0.98 (0.86−1.12), and 0.93 (0.81−1.07) for oestrogen-only users, respectively. Conclusions: Combined HRT was associated with a 9% lower risk of all-cause mortality and oestrogen-only formulation was not associated with any significant changes. Funding: IFoA. Keywords: Hormone replacement therapy, menopause, mortality, primary care records, THIN. Tweetable abstract: Oestrogen-only HRT is not associated with all-cause mortality and combined HRT reduces the risks.


Author(s):  
Nurunnahar Akter ◽  
Elena Kulinskaya ◽  
Nicholas Steel ◽  
Ilyas Bakbergenuly

Objective: To estimate the effect of oestrogen-only and combined hormone replacement therapy (HRT) on the hazards of overall and age-specific all-cause mortality in healthy women aged 46 to 65 at first prescription. Design: Matched cohort study. Setting: Electronic primary care records from The Health Improvement Network (THIN) database, UK (1984−2017). Population: 105,199 HRT users (cases) and 224,643 non-users (controls) matched on age and general practice. Methods: Weibull Double-Cox regression models adjusted for age at first treatment, birth cohort, type 2 diabetes, hypertension and hypertension treatment, coronary heart disease, oophorectomy/hysterectomy, body mass index, smoking, and deprivation status. Main outcome measures: All-cause mortality. Results: A total of 21,751 women died over an average of 13.5 years follow-up per participant, of whom 6,329 were users and 15,422 non-users. The adjusted hazard ratio (HR) of overall all-cause mortality in combined HRT users was 0.91 (95%CI 0.88−0.94), and in oestrogen-only users was 0.99 (0.93−1.07), compared to non-users. Age-specific adjusted HRs for participants aged 46-50, 51-55, 56-60, and 61-65 years at first treatment were 0.98 (0.92−1.04), 0.87 (0.82−0.92), 0.88 (0.82−0.93), and 0.92 (0.85−0.98), for combined HRT users compared to non-users, and 1.01 (0.84−1.21), 1.03 (0.89−1.18), 0.98 (0.86−1.12), and 0.93 (0.81−1.07) for oestrogen-only users, respectively. Conclusions: Combined HRT was associated with a 9% lower risk of all-cause mortality and oestrogen-only formulation was not associated with any significant changes. Funding: IFoA. Keywords: Hormone replacement therapy, menopause, mortality, primary care records, THIN. Tweetable abstract: Oestrogen-only HRT is not associated with all-cause mortality and combined HRT reduces the risks.


2021 ◽  
Vol 32 (4) ◽  
pp. 148-156
Author(s):  
Nikki Noble

Peri-menopause and menopause are a normal part of ageing. Nikki Noble gives an overview of hormone replacement therapy and practical prescribing tips Menopause is a physiological event of ovarian failure due to a loss of ovarian follicular activity. This leads to a lack of oestrogen, resulting in the cessation of menstruation and loss of reproductive function. This article discusses the symptoms of menopause and treatment with hormone replacement therapy. This includes practical prescribing, side effects and long-term benefits and risks. The current shortages of hormone replacement therapy are also addressed. The aim of this article is to enable health professionals to define menopause and gain an understanding of the symptoms associated with it. After reading this article you should be able to: describe when peri-menopause and menopause occur, describe the common symptoms that may be experienced during peri-menopause and menopause, understand of the hormones used in hormone replacement therapy, and understand the practical prescribing of hormone replacement therapy and the benefits, risks, contraindications and side-effects.


2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 91-97
Author(s):  
Nikki Noble

Menopause is a physiological event of ovarian failure due to a loss of ovarian follicular activity. This leads to a lack of oestrogen, resulting in the cessation of menstruation and loss of reproductive function. This article discusses the symptoms of menopause and treatment with hormone replacement therapy. This includes practical prescribing, side effects and long term benefits and risks. The current shortages of hormone replacement therapy are also addressed. The aim of this article is to enable healthcare professionals to define menopause and gain an understanding of the symptoms associated with it. After reading this article you should be able to: describe when peri-menopause and menopause occur, describe the common symptoms that may be experienced during peri-menopause and menopause, understand of the hormones used in hormone replacement therapy, and understand the practical prescribing of hormone replacement therapy and the benefits, risks, contraindications and side-effects.


2000 ◽  
Vol 57 (10) ◽  
pp. 643-645
Author(s):  
Kueng

Profunde Kenntnisse der teilweise sehr unterschiedlichen Wirkungen, Nebenwirkungen und Partialwirkungen bei der Anwendung verschiedener Hormonersatzpräparate und Praparatekombinationen sind zur Beratung peri- und postmenopausaler Frauen unabdingbar. In den folgenden Ausführungen sollen einige praktische Aspekte ausgewählter Themenbereiche wie Auswirkung einer Hormonsubstitution auf Blutzucker, Diabetes, Blutdruck, Hypertonie, Serum-Lipide, Migräne und Gestagenunverträglichkeit diskutiert werden.


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