The 2017 Women's Health Initiative study and use of hormone therapy: an emulated repeated cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Hormone therapy (HT) use among menopausal women declined after negative information from the 2002 Women's Health Initiative (WHI) HT study. The 2017 post-intervention follow-up WHI study revealed that HT did not increase long-term mortality. However, studies on the effects of the updated WHI findings are lacking. Thus, we assessed the impact of the 2017 WHI findings on HT use in Taiwan. METHODS: We identified 1,869,050 women aged 50-60 years, between June and December 2017, from health insurance claims data to compare HT use in the 3 months preceding and following September 2017. To address the limitations associated with interval-censored data, we employed an emulated repeated cross-sectional design. Using logistic regression analysis, we evaluated the impact of the 2017 WHI study on menopausal symptom-related outpatient visits and HT use. In a scenario analysis, we examined the impact of the 2002 trial on HT use to validate our study design. RESULTS: Study participants' baseline characteristics before and after the 2017 WHI study were not significantly different. Logistic regressions demonstrated that the 2017 study had no significant effect on outpatient visits for menopause-related symptoms or HT use among women with outpatient visits. The scenario analysis confirmed the negative impact of the 2002 WHI trial on HT use. CONCLUSIONS: The 2017 WHI study did not demonstrate any impact on either menopause-related outpatient visits or HT use among middle-aged women in Taiwan. Our emulated cross-sectional study design may be employed in similar population-based policy intervention studies using interval-censored data.

Relationship between menopausal hormone therapy and colorectal cancer: a cohort study utilizing the health insurance database in South Korea (HISK)-II.

OBJECTIVE: Many studies have demonstrated that menopausal hormone therapy is associated with a reduced risk for colorectal cancer. This study investigated the relationship between specific hormone therapy regimens and colorectal cancer risk in postmenopausal women in South Korea using national insurance claims data. METHODS: This population-based, retrospective cohort study used insurance data provided by the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service between 2007 and 2020. The hormone therapy group comprised women ≥40 years of age who underwent hormone therapy for the first time between 2011 and 2014. The control group included women ≥40 years of age who visited medical institutions for menopause-related issues during the same period but did not undergo hormone therapy. RESULTS: After 1:1 propensity score matching, 153,736 women were grouped into either the hormone therapy or nonhormone therapy groups. The incidence of colorectal cancer was 46 and 53 per 100,000 person-years in the nonhormone therapy and hormone therapy groups, respectively. Hormone therapy was associated with an increased risk for colorectal cancer (hazard ratio 1.124 [95% confidence interval 1.002-1.261]). Subgroup analysis, according to hormone therapy type, revealed no significant differences in the risk of colorectal cancer for estrogen plus progestogen or estrogen therapy alone; however, tibolone was associated with an increased risk of colorectal cancer compared to nonhormone therapy (hazard ratio, 1.178 [95% confidence interval, 1.021-1.359]). CONCLUSIONS: This study found an increased risk of colorectal cancer in women receiving hormone therapy, and tibolone was significantly associated with an increased risk of colorectal cancer. However, the magnitude of the increase was small and unlikely to be of clinical significance.

Menopausal Hormone Therapy, an Ever-Present Topic: A Pilot Survey about Women's Experience and Medical Doctors' Approach.

Background and Objective: Menopause can be associated with many clinical manifestations: vasomotor symptoms, urogenital problems, and additional psychological disturbances, such as anxiety, mood changes, and sleep alterations. The prolonged lack of hormones also increases the risk of long-term consequences. Hormone Replacement Treatment (HRT) in menopause consists of the administration of estrogen, alone or associated to progesterone, to relieve these uncomfortable disturbances and to prevent the onset of other pathologic conditions. The aim of this study is to examine the prevalence of HRT use in a sample of menopausal women and their experience with menopause and HRT. This study also investigates the knowledge of general practitioners (GPs) and gynecologists about HRT and its prescription. Materials and Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional population survey on 126 women of 50-59 years in an industrial city in the North of Italy, Vercelli (Novara), in Eastern Piedmont. We also presented a questionnaire on the topic to 54 medical doctors (GPs and gynecologists) of the same area. Results: The prevalence of HRT use in our sample was 11.9%. In total, a good percentage of the users affirmed to be satisfied with HRT. Additionally, a minority of women reported being ideally against the use of replacement hormones, were advised against using HRT by doctors, and did not use it because of the fear of side effects. We found a positive association between patient education, health care attitude, and HRT usage. A significant number of women knew about HRT from the media, and most of them were not informed by a health professional. Despite this, the interviewed doctors considered their knowledge about HRT as 'good' and would recommend HRT: only 5.6% would not prescribe it. Conclusions: Our results highlight the need for information about HRT among patients and health professionals, along with the need for more effective communication, evaluation, and suggestion of treatment.

Increased rate of pancreatitis in gender diverse and transgender patients on hormone therapy: a case series study.

BACKGROUND: There is limited data on the incidence of gastrointestinal-specific pathology in gender non-conforming (GNC) populations. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of pancreatitis incidence rates in transgender and GNC persons exposed and not exposed to gender-affirming hormone therapy (GAHT). RESULTS: 7 of the 1333 patients on hormone therapy had an incidence of pancreatitis. 0 of the 615 patients with no history of GAHT use developed pancreatitis. Representing a 6.96 (95% CI 2.76 to 848.78) for the development of pancreatitis in patients with exposure to GAHT therapy. CONCLUSION: Clinicians working with GNC individuals should be aware of this possible association.

Reproductive factors and risk of physical frailty among Chinese women living in Singapore.

SETTING: Although age at menopause has been linked to higher risk of physical frailty in later life, little is known about other reproductive factors. OBJECTIVES: Our study aimed to investigate the associations between 1) age at menarche, 2) age at natural menopause, 3) duration of reproductive period, 4) number of children, 5) use of oral contraceptives (OCP), and 6) use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) with the risk of physical frailty in late life. DESIGN: We used data from 5934 women of the Singapore Chinese Health Study who experienced natural menopause, and participated in the third follow-up interviews when physical frailty was assessed. Logistic regression was used to evaluate association of reproductive factors evaluated during baseline and prior follow-up interviews with physical frailty at follow-up 3. PARTICIPANTS: Community-dwelling Chinese women living in Singapore. Participants had a mean age of 52.6 years at baseline (1993-1998), and a mean age of 72.8 years during the third follow-up (2014-2017). MEASUREMENTS: Sociodemographic characteristics, level of education, smoking history, physical activity, and history of physician-diagnosed comorbidities were collected. Participants' weight and height were self-reported. We used a modified Cardiovascular Health Study phenotype to assess physical frailty. RESULTS: Age at menarche was inversely associated with the likelihood of physical frailty (Ptrend = 0.001); each one-year decrease in age at menarche was associated with a 9% increase (95% CI: 4%-14%) in odds of physical frailty. Age at menopause was also inversely associated with the likelihood of physical frailty (Ptrend = 0.009); every one-year decrease in age at menopause was associated with 2% (0%-4%) increased odds. In the assessment of frailty, younger ages at menarche and menopause were associated with greater likelihood of being in the slowest quintile for timed up-and-go and weakest quintile for handgrip strength. Conversely, duration of reproductive period, parity, and use of oral contraceptives or hormone replacement therapy were not significantly associated with the likelihood of physical frailty. CONCLUSIONS: In our population-based cohort of Chinese women, younger ages at menarche and menopause were associated with higher likelihood of physical frailty in later life.

Relationship between menopausal hormone therapy and breast cancer: A nationwide population-based cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the risk of breast cancer associated with menopausal hormone therapy (MHT), including the various progestogens used today. METHODS: The study included postmenopausal women over 40 years from the National Health Insurance Database in South Korea (2011-2014) who either used MHT for over 6 months (MHT group) or never used MHT (non-MHT group) and were matched 1:1 based on several variables using propensity score matching. Both groups were followed until 2020. RESULTS: The non-MHT and MHT groups comprised 153 736 women each. In Cox proportional hazard analysis with time-dependent covariates, MHT was associated with an increased risk of breast cancer (hazard ratio [HR] 1.22, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.15-1.3). Tibolone, estradiol valerate (EV)/medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA), EV/norethisterone acetate (NETA), conjugated equine estrogen (CEE), EV, estradiol hemihydrate (EH), CEE/micronized progesterone (MP), CEE/MPA, EV/MP, EV/MPA, and EH/MP did not increase the risk of breast cancer compared with the non-MHT group. However, EH/drospirenone (DRSP) (HR 1.51, 95% CI 1.38-1.66), EH/NETA (HR 1.66, 95% CI 1.34-2.06), EH/dydrogesterone (DYD) (HR 1.37, 95% CI 1.12-1.68), and EV/cyproterone acetate (CPA) (HR 1.74, 95% CI 1.54-1.96) increased the risk of breast cancer compared with the non-MHT group. CONCLUSIONS: MHT was linked to increased breast cancer risk, but not all MHTs. Specific combined therapies (EH/DRSP, EH/DYD, EH/NETA, and EV/CPA) were associated with higher risk, whereas estrogen alone and tibolone were not.

Effect of Hormone Replacement Therapy on Chronic Rhinosinusitis Management.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate whether hormone replacement therapy (HRT) impacts health care resource utilization in the management of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) in older women. METHODS: Using the TriNetX US health record database, women 55 years or older with a diagnosis of CRS were included and followed for 3 years. The cohort was stratified into two groups: women who received HRT at the beginning of the study were compared to women who did not receive HRT. The groups were matched by age, race, ethnicity, history of asthma, and history of nasal polyps. Outcomes included whether the patient underwent endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) and frequency of antibiotic use. Measures of association, Kaplan-Meier analysis, and cohort descriptive statistics were calculated. RESULTS: Of the 65,400 women included, the mean age was 66.9 years. 27.0% and 3.6% of patients had a history of asthma or nasal polyps, respectively. Overall, 2.0% of CRS patients underwent ESS, with the HRT group less likely to undergo ESS [OR: 0.28; 95% CI: (0.25-0.32)] compared to patients who did not receive HRT. When stratified by polyp status, HRT patients with nasal polyps had a greater decrease in ESS rates compared to control than HRT patients without nasal polyps. The HRT group had a higher mean number of antibiotic prescriptions compared to the non-HRT group. CONCLUSION: HRT is associated with decreased utilization of ESS to treat CRS, with a greater effect size for ESS among CRSwNP patients. However, HRT was associated with higher antibiotic utilization. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 3 Laryngoscope, 134:3921-3926, 2024.

Descrição de medicamentos prescritos para a terapia hormonal em serviços de saúde especializados para transexuais e travestis no Rio Grande do Sul, 2020 / Descripción de medicamentos recetados para terapia hormonal en servicios de salud especializados para transexuales y travestis en Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil, 2020 / Description of drugs prescribed for hormone therapy in specialized health services for transsexual and transvestite persons in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, 2020

Objetivo: Descrever os medicamentos prescritos para o tratamento hormonal do processo transexualizador em estabelecimentos de saúde de atendimento especializado para pessoas transexuais e travestis no Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil. Métodos: Estudo descritivo, com coleta de dados nesses estabelecimentos, no período maio-setembro/2020, utilizando-se instrumento elaborado pelos(as) pesquisadores(as). Obtiveram-se dados sobre o perfil de usuários(as) e características do cuidado farmacológico de tratamento hormonal. Resultados: A pesquisa contemplou todos os sete serviços do estado. Para mulheres transexuais e travestis, medicamentos antiandrogênicos e espironolactona foram prescritos em todos os serviços. Apenas um estabelecimento não prescreveu ciproterona. Todos os estabelecimentos de saúde realizaram prescrição de medicamentos a base de estrógenos, com diferenças na via de administração; para homens transexuais, todos prescreveram andrógenos por via intramuscular. Conclusão: A pesquisa aponta os medicamentos prescritos e sua diversidade, ratificando a necessidade da produção de informação para implementação das políticas de equidade no Sistema Único de Saúde.

Objetivo: Describir los medicamentos prescritos para el tratamiento hormonal en establecimientos de salud que brindan atención especializada a transexuales y travestis en Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil. Métodos: Estudio descriptivo, con recolección de datos en los establecimientos, entre mayo y septiembre de 2020, utilizando el instrumento desarrollado por los investigadores. Se obtuvieron datos sobre el perfil de usuarios (as) y características del cuidado farmacológico de tratamiento hormonal. Resultados: La encuesta abarcó los siete servicios estatales. Para las mujeres transgénero y travestis se prescribieron antiandrógenos y espironolactona en todos los servicios. Sólo un establecimiento no prescribió ciproterona. Todos los establecimientos de salud prescribieron medicamentos a base de estrógenos con diferencias en la vía de administración. Para los hombres transgénero, todos los andrógenos se recetan por vía intramuscular. Conclusión: La investigación destaca la diversidad de medicamentos prescritos, ratificando la necesidad de producir información para la implementación de políticas de equidad en el Sistema de Salud Brasileño.

Objective: To describe the drugs prescribed for hormone treatment as part of the transsexualization process in health facilities providing specialized care for transsexual and transvestite persons in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Methods: This was a descriptive study based on data collected in health facilities between May and September 2020 using the instrument developed by the researchers. Results: The survey covered all seven services in the state. Antiandrogen drugs and spironolactone were prescribed for transsexuals and transvestites women in all services. Only one service did not prescribe cyproterone. All health facilities prescribed estrogen-based drugs, although with differences in the route of administration. In the case of transsexuals men, all services prescribed androgens to be administered via the intramuscular route. Conclusion: The study indicates which drugs are prescribed and their diversity, ratifying the need to produce information for the implementation of equity policies in the Brazilian National Health System.

Avaliação de danos genéticos e apoptose em mulheres menopausadas que fazem uso da terapia de reposição hormonal / Assessment of genetic damage and apoptosis in postmenopausal women under hormone replacement therapy

Objetivo: Avaliar por meio do teste de micronúcleo em células esfoliadas da mucosa oral a genotoxicidade de hormônios empregados na terapia de reposição hormonal (TRH). Material e métodos: Quarenta mulheres menopausadas foram selecionadas e distribuídas em quatro grupos de dez: G0 (não submetidas à TRH), G1 (TRH com estrógeno), G2 (TRH com estrógeno e progestágeno) e G3 (TRH com tibolona). Células esfoliadas da mucosa oral foram coletadas e processadas para análise, sob microscopia óptica, de danos cromossômicos (micronúcleos) e de apoptose, inferida pelo somatório de alterações nucleares degenerativas (picnose, cariorréxis e cromatina condensada). Duas mil células foram analisadas por participante. A análise estatística foi feita com o uso do teste condicional para comparação de proporções em situação de eventos raros. Resultados: A frequência de micronúcleo não diferiu entre os grupos (p > 0,05). As alterações nucleares indicativas de apoptose foram significativamente mais altas entre as mulheres do G0 em relação às dos demais grupos (p < 0,01). Os grupos submetidos à TRH não diferiram quanto à ocorrência de apoptose (p > 0,05). Conclusões: Esses resultados indicam que, tal como avaliado neste estudo, a TRH não induz danos cromossômicos. Entretanto, devido ao efeito antiapoptótico, permite a proliferação de células geneticamente danificadas, está assim potencialmente associada ao processo de transformação maligna.(AU)

Objective: To evaluate through the micronucleus test in exfoliated cells of oral mucosa the genotoxicity of hormones used in hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Material and methods: Forty postmenopausal women were selected and divided into four groups of ten: G0 (not submitted to HRT), G1 (HRT with estrogen), G2 (HRT with estrogen and progestogen) and G3 (HRT with tibolone). Exfoliated cells of oral mucosa were collected and processed for analysis of chromosomal damage (micronuclei) and apoptosis, inferred by the sum of nuclear degenerative alterations (picnosis, cariorréxis and condensed chromatin). Two thousand cells were analyzed by participant. Statistical analysis was performed using the conditional test to compare proportions in a situation of rare events. Results: The frequency of micronuclei did not differ between groups (p > 0.05). Apoptotic cells were significantly higher among women from G0 when compared to the other groups (p < 0.01). The groups submitted to HRT did not differ in apoptosis occurrence (p > 0.05). Conclusions: These results indicate that, as assessed in this study, TRH does not induce chromosomal damage, however, due to the anti-apoptotic effect, cells genetically damaged can proliferate, favoring the malignant transformation process.(AU)

Deficiencia de hormona de crecimiento en el adulto ¿debe tratarse? / Growth Hormone Deficiency (GHD) in Adults: To Treat or Not To Treat?

Over the last decade, different guidelines have been published for the diagnosis, treatment and monitoring of adult growth hormone deficiency (AGHD). Themes and recommendations common to the guidelines offer a pragmatic approach to the management of AGHD. Nevertheless, there is a need for more research in some key areas in which recommendations in the guidelines are supported by moderate evidence, at best. Recent meta-analysis and long-term follow-up studies have contributed with valuable information on the efficacy and safety of GH therapy in adults. This review brings a historical perspective of the AGHD, with an emphasis on the following aspects: (I) who are the appropriate candidates for GH therapy in adult life? (II) how to make the diagnosis (III) the impact of GH therapy; (IV) which therapeutic approach should be used? (V) how to follow and monitor the patients; and (VI) special aspects on mortality and longevity related to the GH-IGF-1 axis.

Sobrevida de mulheres tratadas por câncer de mama no estado do Rio de Janeiro / Sobrevida de mujeres tratadas por câncer de mama en el estado de Rio de Janeiro, Sureste de Brasil / Survival of breast cancer women in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Southeastern Brazil

OBJETIVO: Avaliar a associação entre sobrevida de mulheres com câncer de mama e estrutura e práticas observadas nos estabelecimentos de assistência oncológica. MÉTODOS: Estudo longitudinal retrospectivo, baseado em informações do Sistema de Autorização de Procedimentos de Alta Complexidade do Sistema Único de Saúde e em amostra aleatória de 310 prontuários de mulheres prevalentes atendidas em 15 unidades hospitalares e ambulatoriais oncológicas com quimioterapia entre 1999 e 2002, no estado do Rio de Janeiro. Foram consideradas como variáveis independentes características da estrutura das unidades oncológicas e as suas intervenções praticadas, controlando o efeito com variáveis sociodemográficas e clínicas das pacientes. Para análise dos dados, foram utilizados a técnica de Kaplan-Meier e o modelo de risco de Cox (pseudo-verossimilhança). RESULTADOS: As análises de Kaplan-Meier apontaram associações significativas entre sobrevida e tempo entre diagnóstico e início do tratamento, realização de cirurgia, utilização de hormonioterapia, tipo de hormonioterapia, combinações terapêuticas, tipo de unidade e plano de saúde, volume de atendimento em câncer de mama do estabelecimento e natureza jurídica da unidade. Estimativas obtidas pelo modelo de Cox indicaram associações positivas entre o hazard de morte e tempo entre diagnóstico e início do tratamento, volume de atendimento de câncer de mama do estabelecimento e tipo de unidade combinado ao uso de plano de saúde; e negativas entre sobrevida e cirurgia de mama e tipo de hormonioterapia. CONCLUSÕES: Os resultados mostram associação entre sobrevida de câncer de mama e o cuidado de saúde prestado pelos serviços credenciados, com implicações práticas para pautar novas propostas para o controle do câncer no Brasil.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the association between breast cancer survival and infrastructure and practices of cancer care units. METHODS: Retrospective longitudinal study based on data from the Brazilian information system of authorizations for highly complex cancer procedures covered by the National Health System and a sample of 310 medical records of prevalent breast cancer cases attended at 15 inpatient and outpatient cancer care units providing chemotherapy between 1999 and 2002 in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Southeastern Brazil. Independent variables were infrastructure of cancer units, interventions, and sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of women. Kaplan-Meier method and Cox proportional hazards model (pseudolikelihood) were used for data analysis. RESULTS: Kaplan-Meier analyses pointed out significant associations between survival and time between diagnosis and treatment start, surgery, hormone therapy, type of adjuvant hormone therapy, therapy combinations, type of care unit and health insurance, unit size and category. Estimates obtained from the Cox model showed positive associations between hazard of death and time between diagnosis and treatment, unit size and type combined to use of health insurance, and negative associations between survival and surgery and type of hormone therapy. CONCLUSIONS: The study findings show an association between breast cancer survival and health care provided by affiliated services with practical implications for policy making for cancer control in Brazil.

OBJETIVO: Evaluar la asociación entre sobrevida de mujeres con cáncer de mama y estructura y prácticas observadas en los establecimientos de asistencia oncológica. MÉTODOS: Estudio longitudinal retrospectivo, basado en informaciones del Sistema de Autorización de Procedimientos de Alta Complejidad del Sistema Único de Salud y en muestra aleatoria de 310 prontuarios de mujeres prevalentes atendidas en 15 unidades hospitalarias y ambulatorias oncológicas con quimioterapia entre 1999 y 2002, en el estado de Río de Janeiro, Sureste de Brasil. Fueron consideradas como variables independientes características de la estructura de las unidades oncológicas y sus intervenciones practicadas, controlando el efecto con variables sociodemográficas y clínicas de las pacientes. Para análisis de los datos, fueron utilizados la técnica de Kaplan-Meier y el modelo de riesgo de Cox (pseudos-verosimilitud). RESULTADOS: Los análisis de Kaplan-Meier señalaron asociaciones significativas entre sobrevida y tiempo entre diagnóstico e inicio del tratamiento, realización de cirugía, utilización de hormonoterapia, tipo de hormonoterapia, combinaciones terapéuticas, tipo de unidad y seguro de salud, volumen de atención en cáncer de mama del establecimiento y naturaleza jurídica de la unidad. Estimaciones obtenidas por el modelo Cox indicaron asociaciones positivas entre el hazard de muerte y tiempo entre diagnóstico e inicio del tratamiento, volumen de atención de cáncer de mama del establecimiento y tipo de unidad combinado con el uso del seguro de salud; y negativas entre sobrevida y cirugía de mama y tipo de hormonoterapia. CONCLUSIONES: Los resultados muestran asociación entre sobrevida de cáncer de mama y el cuidado de salud prestado por los servicios acreditados, con implicaciones prácticas para pautar nuevas propuestas para el control del cáncer en Brasil.

Evaluación de la terapia de reemplazo hormonal en usuarias del programa climaterio a nivel de atención primaria, Antofagasta, 2002 / Evaluation of hormone replacement therapy in users of the climacteric program at the basic treatment level, Antofagasta, 2002

The benefits of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) have been widely demonstrated, and in theory, all climacteric women should receive it, except for those who demonstrate absolute contraindications. A study was made of 83 active users of HRT in the Climacteric Subprogram at a primary Treatment Clinic at Antofagasta. The average age of this group was 56 years, with an average age at menopause of 47 years and initiation of HRT treatment of 50 years. The range of time of therapy was from 3 to 5 years. Farlupost (37 percent) and Killios (24 percent) were the types of hormonal treatment most utilized. A rate of 92 percent of physiological menopause was observed, and predominant pretherapy symptoms included fluhing (42 percent), bone pain (18 percent), and headache (18 percent). With development of therapy, 72.3 percent reported being asymptomatic, and the remainig individuals had bone pain (35 percent), flushing (31 percent), headache (13 percent), sweating (13 percent), and insomnia (8 percent). A total of 94 percent would not elect to suspend the HRT for fear of reappearance of symptoms, with the only cause for abandoning the treatment being bleeding. During the study, 67.4 percent took supplementary calcium and 39 percent carried out physical exercise, primmarily walking. Improvement in family relations was cited by 43.4 percent, improved self esteem in 54.2 percent and sexual improvement in 37.3 percent.

Están ampliamente demostrados los beneficios de la terapia de reemplazo hormonal (TRH) y, en teoría, todas las mujeres climatéricas deberían recibirla, a menos que presenten contraindicaciones absolutas. Se estudió a 83 usuarias activas con terapia de reemplazo hormonal (TRH) del Subprograma Climaterio en un Consultorio de Atención Primaria de Antofagasta. El promedio de edad actual en este grupo de 56 años, con edad media de menopausia de 47 años e inicio de TRH de 50 años. El rango de tiempo de terapia fue de 3 a 5 años. Farlupost (37 percent) y Killios (24 por ciento) fueron los tipos de terapia hormonal más utilizados. Se constató un 92 por ciento de menopausia fisiológica y la sintomatología predominante preterapia fue bochornos (42 por ciento), dolor óseo (18 por ciento) y cefalea (18 por ciento). En la evolución con terapia el 72,3 por ciento refirió encontrarse asintomática, mientras que persistieron dolor óseo (35 por ciento), bochornos (31 por ciento), cefalea (13 por ciento), sudoración (13 por ciento) e insomnio (8 por ciento). Un 94 por ciento no suspendería la TRH temiendo la reaparición de síntomas y la única causal de abandono aludida fue el sangramiento. Al momento del estudio el 67,4 por ciento toma suplemento de calcio y un 39,7 por ciento realiza actividad física, principalmente caminata. Se asoció mejoría en el ámbito familiar en un 43,4 por ciento, autoestima en 54,2 por ciento y sexual en 37,3 por ciento.

Avaliaçäo da adesäo ao tratamento de mulheres climatéricas em hospital universitário / Evaluation of the adherence to the treatment of climacteric women at an university hospital

A terapia de reposiçäo hormonal vem sendo aplicada de maneira universal porém pouco uniforme nos últimos 15 anos e muitas säo as dificuldades para alcançar um grau de adesäo aceitável. Destacam-se como fatores influentes os sócio-econômico-demográficos, a relaçäo médico-paciente e os efeitos colaterais. Tendo em vista os poucos dados existentes em nosso meio, este estudo objetivou avaliar a adesäo à terapia de reposiçäo hormonal e ao seguimento climatérico em um grupo de mulheres na pós menopausa. 323 pacientes na pós menopausa foram estudadas, sendo que 237 receberam algum tipo de reposiçäo hormonal (esquemas seqüenciais e contínuos: oral, transdérmicos ou vaginal) e 86 pacientes foram oferecidas medidas de suporte. Avaliaram-se os principais sintomas, a taxa de adesäo e os efeitos colaterais ao longo de 5 anos de seguimento. Comparou-se a adesäo ao tratamento entre os grupos estudados e naquele que utilizou reposiçäo hormonal comparou-se diferentes tipos de esquemas entre si. Houve queda progressiva e continuada da taxa de adesäo ao tratamento proposto, sendo observado que apenas 6 por cento das pacientes continuaram o seguimento após o período de estudo. Näo houve diferenças entre os grupos que utilizaram reposiçäo hormonal com o que näo utilizou. O seguimento a pacientes climatéricas sofre inúmeras influências que geralmente conduzem ao abandono do tratamento, sobressaindo neste estudo as dificuldades sócio-econômicas. Várias medidas e estratégias clínicas podem conduzir ao aumento da adesäo e menores índices de abandono.

Evolución en el diagnóstico de cáncer de mama en el período 1990-1998 / Evolution in breast cancer diagnosis, 1990-1998

Investigar relación entre uso de mamografía para el diagnóstico precoz de cáncer, tamaño tumoral al diagnóstico y terapia hormonal de reemplazo (THR). Se revisaron antecedentes de pacientes con cáncer de mama, seleccionando tres períodos: 1990,1995 y 1998, registrando tamaño tumoral, método de diagnóstico y THR. Se comparó situación en Hospital Estatal (HE), o institución privada (IP). Hay disminución del tamaño tumoral al diagnóstico, de 3,3 a 2,7 cm, siendo más frecuente encontrar tumores pequeños en IP. Aumentó el diagnóstico de cáncer por mamografía, del 5 por ciento en 1990 a 24 por ciento en 1998. THR en mujeres mayores de 49 años ha aumentado tres veces entre 1990 y 1998. THR es de uso preponderante en pacientes IP. Durante esta década hay un importante aumento en THR sin aumento proporcional en la detección mamográfica de cáncer. La situación local es peor que en Estados Unidos en 1969