A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal
Treatment of climacteric symptoms in Finland prior to the controversial reports on hormone therapy
Authors: Jaana Jalava‐Broman, Juha Mäkinen, Ansa Ojanlatva, Kirsi Jokinen, Lauri Sillanmäki, Päivi Rautava
Publisher: TAYLOR & FRANCIS AS
Publication year: 2008
Journal: Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica
Journal name in source: ACTA OBSTETRICIA ET GYNECOLOGICA SCANDINAVICA
Journal acronym: ACTA OBSTET GYN SCAN
Volume: 87
Issue: 6
First page : 682
Last page: 686
Number of pages: 5
ISSN: 0001-6349
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00016340802146920
Abstract
Objective. To examine the use of hormone therapy (HT) or alternative treatments for climacteric symptoms among women aged 52-56 years in 2000. Design. Questionnaire study. Setting. Cross-sectional Finnish female cohort in the year 2000. Sample. Random sample of women aged 52-56 years. Methods. Univariate and multivariate analysis. Main outcome measures. HT explained by 12 physical and 9 background and social variables. Results. The use of HT was significantly (p < 0. 00 1) associated with the severity of climacteric symptoms, a history of not having breast cancer, oophorectomy, low body mass index, high professional education and high alcohol intake. A total of 66% of the women used some form of treatment for their climacteric symptoms. Of them, 71% used systemic HT, 25% alternative treatments (hypnotics, antidepressants, tranquillizers, trace elements, vitamins, lifestyle modifications) and 4% local estrogens only. Altogether 33% of the women with severe climacteric symptoms did not use HT at all, whereas 27% without any symptoms used HT. Conclusions. In early 2000, almost half of the Finnish female population at menopause used HT to alleviate their climacteric symptoms. The impact of the controversial reports on HT use after the time of data collection needs further study.
Objective. To examine the use of hormone therapy (HT) or alternative treatments for climacteric symptoms among women aged 52-56 years in 2000. Design. Questionnaire study. Setting. Cross-sectional Finnish female cohort in the year 2000. Sample. Random sample of women aged 52-56 years. Methods. Univariate and multivariate analysis. Main outcome measures. HT explained by 12 physical and 9 background and social variables. Results. The use of HT was significantly (p < 0. 00 1) associated with the severity of climacteric symptoms, a history of not having breast cancer, oophorectomy, low body mass index, high professional education and high alcohol intake. A total of 66% of the women used some form of treatment for their climacteric symptoms. Of them, 71% used systemic HT, 25% alternative treatments (hypnotics, antidepressants, tranquillizers, trace elements, vitamins, lifestyle modifications) and 4% local estrogens only. Altogether 33% of the women with severe climacteric symptoms did not use HT at all, whereas 27% without any symptoms used HT. Conclusions. In early 2000, almost half of the Finnish female population at menopause used HT to alleviate their climacteric symptoms. The impact of the controversial reports on HT use after the time of data collection needs further study.