Abstract
Objectives
To describe the prevalence and associated factors of hormone replacement therapy (HRT)-related
utilization in a national representative fixed cohort in Taiwan.
Method
The study population are women aged 40 years and over in Taiwan. Our data, provided
by National Health Research Institutes, are the sampled registry information of 37,315
beneficiaries of National Health Insurance from 2000 to 2004. The dependent variables
were HRT-related utilizations, including physician contact, HRT utilization rate/duration/patterns
(new, prevalent and discontinue users). The independent variables were age, time,
prior co-morbidities and prior utilization pattern. We used generalized estimating
equation (GEE) model for repeated measurement analysis.
Results
The outpatient contact rates for menopause syndrome were low, though the HRT prescription
rate among those who have contact were high. GEE shows that age, time, prior co-morbidities/HRT
utilization patterns were significantly associated with all types of HRT-related utilizations,
which all declined significantly following the publications of Women's Health Initiative
(WHI) in 2002. The magnitudes of reduction, though similar in 2003–2004, were greater
for physician contact and HRT durations than that of HRT prescription rate for those
have contacts in 2002. Besides, the percentages of new (discontinue) users have already
declined (increased) since 2001 although it had not declined until 2003 for the continued
users.
Conclusions
WHI publications have great impact on HRT-related utilizations. However, the response
of the women was quicker and much drastic than that of the physicians in 2002. Besides,
the efforts of the various women's associations before WHI might have some contribution
to the declined (increased) of new (discontinued) users.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: September 21, 2007
Accepted:
August 26,
2007
Received in revised form:
August 21,
2007
Received:
June 20,
2007
Identification
Copyright
© 2007 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
