Question: For many years the benefits of routine use of female hormone supplements (estrogen + progesterone) by postmenopausal women have been debated. An American study, the "Women's Health Initiative", compared 8506 women randomized to taking daily hormone supplements to 8102 women randomized to placebo (JAMA 2002;288:321-33). The results were against (positive) expectations.
Results
|
Hormone supplements (n = 8506)
|
placebo
(n = 8102)
|
Average follow-up in months (standard deviation)
|
62.2 (16.1)
|
61.2 (15.0)
|
Cardiovascular disease
|
695
|
546
|
Cancer
|
502
|
458
|
Fractures
|
650
|
788
|
Died
|
231
|
218
|