Evaluation of menopausal hormone therapy use in Korea (2002-2013): A nationwide cohort study

The study aimed to evaluate the degree of menopausal hormonal therapy (MHT) use and the related trends, as well as the characteristics of Korean women who used MHT by type of hormone therapy.

Women aged ≥40 years were selected using data from the Korea National Insurance Service-National Sample Cohort 2002-2013 database. MHT entailed either estrogen therapy or estrogen plus progestogen therapy, as categorized by the Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical system. The prevalence of MHT use was calculated as the number of women with prescriptions annually and the level of hormone consumption was calculated using the defined daily dose (DDD).

The proportion of MHT users among women aged ≥40 years was 7.8 % in 2002, which decreased to 6.3 % in 2013. The overall MHT consumption level in 2002 was 27.5 DDDs/1000 inhabitants/day. There was a sharp decline in the first few years after 2002 and this value decreased to 12.5 DID in 2013; however, the decrease had lessened from 2006 to 2013 and differed by HT type, administration route, age, and income level. During the 11-year follow-up, over 70 % of women were prescribed MHT for less than 1 year, while only 11.8 % had a prescription for 3 years or more, and women who started treatment at age 45-59 years showed longer treatment duration.

Since 2002, MHT use among Korean women, especially overall MHT consumption, has declined remarkably. Regarding the pattern of use among women who took hormone preparations during 2002-2013, MHT was used around menopause, over the short term only, and at low dose.