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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/society/2017/sep/13/hrt-will-not-shorten-lives-women-told-after-new-research-published
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| HRT will not shorten lives, women told after new research published | HRT will not shorten lives, women told after new research published |
| (4 months later) | |
| Follow-up to alarming reports issued at turn of century says women on therapy do not die sooner than those on placebos | |
| Associated Press in Chicago | |
| Wed 13 Sep 2017 01.05 BST | |
| Last modified on Mon 27 Nov 2017 17.07 GMT | |
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| Women will be able to take hormone replacement pills without worrying that the therapy will shorten their lifespans, according to the longest follow-up yet of research that raised fears about the risks of a once-popular treatment. | Women will be able to take hormone replacement pills without worrying that the therapy will shorten their lifespans, according to the longest follow-up yet of research that raised fears about the risks of a once-popular treatment. |
| That earlier research was stopped early when unexpected harm was found to be caused by the use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) – oestrogen alone or in combination with progestin, a synthetic hormone. | That earlier research was stopped early when unexpected harm was found to be caused by the use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) – oestrogen alone or in combination with progestin, a synthetic hormone. |
| More cases of breast cancer, heart attack and stroke occurred in women on combined pills, and those on oestrogen pills had more strokes. | More cases of breast cancer, heart attack and stroke occurred in women on combined pills, and those on oestrogen pills had more strokes. |
| But about 18 years of follow-up research has shown that, despite those risks, women on HRT had similar rates of deaths from breast cancer, heart disease and all other causes as those who took placebos. | But about 18 years of follow-up research has shown that, despite those risks, women on HRT had similar rates of deaths from breast cancer, heart disease and all other causes as those who took placebos. |
| The results are reassuring and support current advice: hormones may be appropriate for some women when used short-term to relieve hot flushes and other menopause symptoms, said Dr JoAnn Manson, preventive medicine chief at Boston’s Brigham and Women’s hospital and lead author of the follow-up report. | The results are reassuring and support current advice: hormones may be appropriate for some women when used short-term to relieve hot flushes and other menopause symptoms, said Dr JoAnn Manson, preventive medicine chief at Boston’s Brigham and Women’s hospital and lead author of the follow-up report. |
| “It’s the ultimate bottom line,” said Manson, who was also part of the original research. “Women want to know – is this medication going to kill me? And the answer appears to be no.” | “It’s the ultimate bottom line,” said Manson, who was also part of the original research. “Women want to know – is this medication going to kill me? And the answer appears to be no.” |
| Results were published on Tuesday in the Journal of the American Medical Association. | Results were published on Tuesday in the Journal of the American Medical Association. |
| Hormones were once considered a panacea for women entering menopause because of evidence suggesting a host of purported benefits including the reduction of heart disease and the boosting of memory. | Hormones were once considered a panacea for women entering menopause because of evidence suggesting a host of purported benefits including the reduction of heart disease and the boosting of memory. |
| The landmark research, backed by the US government, began in the early 1990s to rigorously test hormones’ effects in older women randomly assigned to take the pills or placebos. | The landmark research, backed by the US government, began in the early 1990s to rigorously test hormones’ effects in older women randomly assigned to take the pills or placebos. |
| The results led to advice against taking hormones to prevent age-related diseases. When used for menopause symptoms, the lowest possible dose for the shortest possible time was recommended, then as now. | The results led to advice against taking hormones to prevent age-related diseases. When used for menopause symptoms, the lowest possible dose for the shortest possible time was recommended, then as now. |
| For some women already facing health risks, HRT’s potential harms may outweigh any benefits, and discussions with a doctor about starting the treatment are advised. | For some women already facing health risks, HRT’s potential harms may outweigh any benefits, and discussions with a doctor about starting the treatment are advised. |
| The follow-up research involved most of the more than 27,000 women who were part of the original research. Some earlier follow-ups suggested no increased risk of death in hormone users, but Manson said this is the first to focus only on deaths from various causes. | The follow-up research involved most of the more than 27,000 women who were part of the original research. Some earlier follow-ups suggested no increased risk of death in hormone users, but Manson said this is the first to focus only on deaths from various causes. |
| Overall, almost 7,500 women died – about 27% each in the hormone and dummy pill groups. Most deaths occurred after women stopped taking hormones. About 9% of women in both groups died from heart disease and about 8% from breast and other cancers. | Overall, almost 7,500 women died – about 27% each in the hormone and dummy pill groups. Most deaths occurred after women stopped taking hormones. About 9% of women in both groups died from heart disease and about 8% from breast and other cancers. |
| Among the youngest women, there were fewer overall deaths early on among hormone users than dummy-pill users, but the rates evened out after women stopped using the pills. | Among the youngest women, there were fewer overall deaths early on among hormone users than dummy-pill users, but the rates evened out after women stopped using the pills. |
| Overall, death rates were similar among women on both types of hormone treatment versus dummy pills. | Overall, death rates were similar among women on both types of hormone treatment versus dummy pills. |
| Even so, many women and their doctors remain wary of hormone use. The authors of the follow-up study hope the results “alleviate concerns” about the long-term consequences. | Even so, many women and their doctors remain wary of hormone use. The authors of the follow-up study hope the results “alleviate concerns” about the long-term consequences. |
| More research is needed on the risks and benefits of other types of hormones, including patches, Manson said. | More research is needed on the risks and benefits of other types of hormones, including patches, Manson said. |
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