Research article

Symptom reporting and quality of life in the Estonian Postmenopausal Hormone Therapy Trial

Piret Veerus¹ , Krista Fischer^{* 2} , Sirpa-Liisa Hovi^{* 3} , Helle Karro^{* 4} , Mati Rahu^{* 1} and Elina Hemminki^{* 3}

¹Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, National Institute for Health Development, Hiiu 42, 11619 Tallinn, Estonia

²MRC Biostatistics Unit, Institute of Public Health, Robinson Way, Cambridge CB2 0SR, UK

³Department of Health and Social Services, National Research and Development Centre for Welfare and Health, STAKES, PO Box 220, FI-00531 Helsinki, Finland

⁴Tartu University Women's Clinic, Lossi 36, 51003 Tartu, Estonia

author email corresponding author email* Contributed equally

BMC Women's Health 2008, 8:5doi:10.1186/1472-6874-8-5

Published:	26 March 2008

Abstract

Background

The aim of the study was to determine the effect of postmenopausal hormone therapy on women's symptom reporting and quality of life in a randomized trial.

Methods

1823 women participated in the Estonian Postmenopausal Hormone Therapy (EPHT) Trial between 1999 and 2004. Women were randomized to open-label continuous combined hormone therapy or no treatment, or to blind hormone therapy or placebo. The average follow-up period was 3.6 years. Prevalence of symptoms and quality of life according to EQ-5D were assessed by annually mailed questionnaires.

Results

In the hormone therapy arms, less women reported hot flushes (OR 0.20; 95% CI: 0.14–0.28), sweating (OR 0.56; 95% CI: 0.44–0.72), and sleeping problems (OR 0.66; 95% CI: 0.52–0.84), but more women reported episodes of vaginal bleeding (OR 19.65; 95% CI: 12.15–31.79). There was no difference between the trial arms in the prevalence of other symptoms over time. Quality of life did not depend on hormone therapy use.

Conclusion

Postmenopausal hormone therapy decreased vasomotor symptoms and sleeping problems, but increased episodes of vaginal bleeding, and had no effect on quality of life.

Trial registration number

ISRCTN35338757