Hormone Replacement Therapy and Risk of Severe Asthma Exacerbation in Perimenopausal and Postmenopausal Women: 17-Year National Cohort Study.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The impact of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) on clinical outcomes in menopausal women is uncertain. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between use of HRT and severe asthma exacerbation in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women with asthma. METHODS: We used the Optimum Patient Care Research Database, a population-based longitudinal primary care database in the United Kingdom, to construct a 17-year (January 1, 2000, to December 31, 2016) cohort of perimenopausal and postmenopausal (46-70 years, N = 31,656) women. We defined use of HRT, its subtypes, and duration of HRT use. Severe asthma exacerbation was defined as an asthma-related hospitalization, emergency department visits due to asthma, and/or prescription of oral corticosteroids. Analyses were undertaken using multilevel mixed-effects Poisson regression. RESULTS: At baseline, 22% of women were using any HRT, 11% combined HRT, and 11% estrogen-only HRT. Previous, but not current, use of any (incidence rate ratio [IRR] 1.24, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.22-1.26), combined (IRR 1.28, 95% CI 1.25-1.31), and estrogen-only HRT (IRR 1.18, 95% CI 1.14-1.21), and longer duration (1-2 years IRR 1.16, 95% CI 1.13-1.19; 3-4 years IRR 1.43, 95% CI 1.38-1.48; 5+ years IRR 1.32, 95% CI 1.28-1.36) of HRT use were associated with increased risk of severe asthma exacerbation compared with nonuse. The risk estimates were greater among lean women (body mass index [BMI] <25 kg/m2) than among heavier women (BMI 25-29.9 kg/m2 and ≥30 kg/m2) and higher among smokers than nonsmokers. CONCLUSION: Use of HRT and subtypes, particularly previous, but not current, use and use for more than 2 years, is associated with an increased risk of severe asthma exacerbation in perimenopausal/postmenopausal women with established asthma. Lean women and smokers are at greater risk than heavier women and nonsmokers, respectively.