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Hormone replacement therapy: patterns of use studied through British general practice computerized records.
M Lawrence1, L Jones, T Lancaster
1University Department of Primary Health Care, Institute of Health Sciences, Headington, Oxford, UK.
Family Practice
|September 24, 1999
Summary
Women who use hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for over a year have a high continuation rate, exceeding 95% annually. However, many long-term HRT users switch formulations, requiring flexibility in treatment protocols.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Medicine
- Pharmacology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is commonly prescribed for menopausal symptoms.
- Understanding long-term HRT consumption patterns is crucial for patient management and clinical trial design.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the longitudinal pattern of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) consumption in long-term users (>1 year).
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal analysis of prescription data from UK general practices (1991-1995).
- Inclusion of 1224 long-term HRT users and 1154 non-user controls (aged 45-64).
- Data collection via GP records and questionnaires.
Main Results:
- Annual HRT continuation rate for long-term users (>1 year) was over 95%.
- Users of opposed HRT were 50% more likely to discontinue than unopposed HRT users.
- A significant minority of long-term users frequently changed HRT formulations, with three formulations needed for 94% of users over 4 years.
Conclusions:
- High adherence observed once women initiate long-term HRT use.
- Formulation changes are common among long-term HRT users, necessitating adaptable clinical trial protocols.
- Future HRT trials should account for formulation switching in long-term users.