The impact of menopausal hormone therapy on overall mortality – a comprehensive review

Abstract

Menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) is indicated for menopausal symptom relief. However, MHT has also been shown to be beneficial for prevention of long-term estrogen deficiency sequelae including mortality. Based on a comprehensive literature review on MHT and mortality, the authors’ recommendations are as follows: in postmenopausal women, MHT appears to confer a (significant) reduction in overall mortality; the benefit especially applies to women who initiate long-term MHT early after menopause; in women with prevalent cardiovascular risk factors (except for diabetes mellitus, where results are mixed), the benefit of MHT on overall mortality is even more pronounced; and, however, study results are difficult to compare due to heterogeneous study designs.

摘要

绝经激素治疗(MHT)适用于缓解更年期症状。然而, MHT也被证明对预防包括死亡在内的长期雌激素缺乏的后遗症有益。基于对MHT和死亡率的全面文献综述, 作者的建议如下：在绝经后妇女中, MHT似乎可以(显著)降低总死亡率；这一益处尤其适用于绝经后早期启动长期MHT的妇女；在有普遍的心血管危险因素的妇女(糖尿病除外, 结果具有争议)中, MHT在总死亡率方面的益处更加明显；然而, 由于研究设计的多样性, 研究结果很难进行比较。

Keywords:

• Menopausal hormone therapy
• overall mortality
• review
• age at initiation
• treatment duration

Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful for the support of DR. KADE/BESINS Pharma GmbH in helping with ordering the identified publications. This publication was developed by an expert board from Germany and Switzerland. A. S. is a doctoral student of P. S. Evaluating and extracting scientific publications were part of her doctoral thesis.

Potential conflict of interest

P. S. and A. H. have been part of a German-speaking expert board funded by DR. KADE/BESINS Pharma GmbH. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the article.

Additional information

Funding

The independent agency (gwd consult) for the literature search and two board meetings (travel expenses, compensation for loss of salary for P. S. and A. H.) were funded by DR. KADE/BESINS Pharma GmbH without influence on the content.