Differences in patient-reported hormone therapy use for menopause symptoms by provider specialty

Abstract

Objective

Hormone therapy (HT) is an effective treatment for menopause symptoms in select women. This study aimed to determine whether there is different prevalence of HT use based on patient report by women who see different provider specialties.

Methods

This study was a cross-sectional analysis of published data from the Survey of Midlife in the United States (MIDUS), a telephone or self-administered questionnaire of 3294 participants aged 39–90 years. Postmenopausal women were included. Self-reported HT use and provider specialty seen were each assessed by one question. Univariate logistic regression assessed factors possibly related to HT use. Variables with p < 0.1 were entered into a multivariable logistic regression model.

Results

Of the 938 postmenopausal respondents, 720 (76%) saw a gynecologist for care. One-hundred and thirty-one (13%) women used HT for menopausal symptoms. Of women using HT, 72 (55%) saw a gynecologist. When controlling for other factors, women who saw a gynecologist had three times higher odds of using HT. The most frequently seen provider specialty was not associated with use.

Conclusions

Women who ever see a gynecologist are more likely to use HT for menopausal symptoms, but fewer women see gynecologists as they age. Generalists are the most seen provider specialty, positioning them to counsel patients about HT.

不同专业医务人员针对患者应用激素治疗绝经症状情况的差异 摘要

目的：激素治疗（HT）是一种有效治疗女性绝经症状的方法。本研究目的是根据不同医疗机构提供的情况, 确定患者问诊不同专业的医务人员HT应用率是否存在不同。

方法：本研究对美国中年调查（MIDUS）公布的数据进行横断面分析, 采用电话或自填问卷调查3294名39-90岁的受访者, 包括绝经后女性。通过一个问题对自述HT应用情况和被问诊的医务人员的专业进行评估。单变量logistic回归评估可能与HT应用相关的因素。将p<0.1的变量输入多变量logistic回归模型。

结果：在938名绝经后受访者中, 720名（76%）就诊于妇科。131名（13%）女性应用HT治疗绝经症状。在应用HT的女性中, 有72名（55%）就诊于妇科。当控制其他因素时, 就诊妇科的女性HT应用率高出三倍。患者最常就诊的医务人员的专业与用药情况无关。

结论：曾经就诊妇科的女性更可能应用HT治疗绝经症状, 但随着年龄的增长, 就诊妇科的女性越来越少。全科医生是为患者提供有关HT咨询最常见的医务人员。

Keywords:

• Menopause
• hormone therapy
• provider specialty

Potential conflict of interest

Both authors disclose no competing interests, personal financial interests, funding, employment or other conflicts of interest regarding this study. This material has not been published or submitted for publication elsewhere.

Data availability statement

Publicly available data from the MIDUS study were used for this research.

Additional information

Funding

Since 1995 the MIDUS study has been funded by John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation Research Network; National Institute on Aging [P01-AG020166]; National institute on Aging [U19-AG051426].