News Review From Harvard Medical School — Report: Hormone Study Returned Big Savings

May 6, 2014

News Review From Harvard Medical School -- Report: Hormone Study Returned Big Savings

A landmark study that found hormone therapy may harm rather than help women after menopause cost the U.S. government $260 million. But the study results transformed medical practice. And that saved the health care system $37 billion, a new analysis concludes. That's $140 for every dollar spent. The National Institutes of Health funded the study, called the Women's Health Initiative. Older women, average age 63, were randomly assigned to receive either hormone treatment or placebo (fake) pills. The study was halted early, in 2002. Women taking estrogen plus progesterone had higher rates of heart attack, stroke, blood clots and breast cancer than those who got the placebo. There was no effect on heart attack or breast cancer rates in a second group of women who were given estrogen only. But they also had higher risks of stroke and blood clots. Hormone use for menopause symptoms dropped by half right away. It continued to fall in later years. Cases of breast cancer, heart disease and blood clots also declined. But stopping hormone therapy may have contributed to a rise in bone fractures, the new study says. The journal Annals of Internal Medicine published the study. HealthDay News wrote about it May 5.

By Howard LeWine, M.D.Harvard Medical School

What Is the Doctor's Reaction?

From about 1960 until 2002, doctors often prescribed hormone therapy for women as they entered menopause. This treatment replaced the estrogen and progesterone that women begin to lose in their late 40s or early 50s. And it relieved symptoms of menopause, especially hot flashes.

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News Review From Harvard Medical School -- Report: Hormone Study Returned Big Savings