Guest guest Posted March 20, 2003 Report Share Posted March 20, 2003 I think someone from Healthypages has perhaps been joining our groups LOL. > Daily News from Healthypages > 20 March 2003 > _______________________________ > > HRT “does not improve women’s quality of life†> > Hormone replacement therapy does not have a significant effect on quality > of life for postmenopausal women, US research suggests. > > Findings from a major hormone replacement therapy (HRT) trial have shown > that vitality, mental health, depressive symptoms, and sexual satisfaction > were not improved among women taking a combination of the hormones > oestrogen and progestin. > > Writing in the New England Journal of Medicine, the researchers from the > Women’s Health Initiative highlighted that previous research into the > effect of HRT on health-related quality of life had given inconsistent > results. > > The researchers studied 16,608 women between the ages of 50 and 79 who were > assigned to receive either oestrogen and progestin or a placebo. > > A number of different measures were used to assess their quality of life at > the beginning of the study, one year after the study began and – for a > subgroup of 1,511 women – after three years. > > Dr Jennifer Hays and colleagues from the initiative said the trial provided > “an excellent opportunity to assess the relations between the use of > oestrogen plus progestin and health-related quality of life and other > psychosocial measures in postmenopausal womenâ€. > > The analysis found that although the therapy did appear to benefit problems > of pain, sleep disturbance and physical functioning after one year, this > was not considered “clinically meaningfulâ€. > > Among women 50 to 54 years of age with moderate to severe blood vessel > problems, the combined drug therapy improved their condition and resulted > in a small benefit in terms of sleep disturbance, but no benefit was > observed in relation to other quality of life outcomes. > > The authors of the report said, “The statistically significant effects > observed for physical function, bodily pain, and sleep disturbance were > small and appeared to be restricted to the first year of use. > > “For most women, these small benefits do not outweigh the risks of heart > attack, stroke, blood clots, and breast cancer associated with combined > hormone therapy,†they concluded. > > The Women’s Health Initiative trial was stopped early amid fears > surrounding the health of the participants. > > © HMG Worldwide 2003 > > > ******************************* > > Other stories > > Warning over celebrity diets > People with mild kidney damage should avoid high-protein “celebrity†diets > because they may make the condition worse, say US researchers. > Full story: http://www.healthypages.net/news-1.asp?newsid=2959 > > “Fewer†GP depression referrals > Fewer depressed patients are being referred to specialists because doctors > are becoming more confident with prescribing antidepressants, according to > a new study. > Full story: http://www.healthypages.net/news-1.asp?newsid=2958 > > “Bullying culture†at ambulance trust > A routine inspection at an Essex ambulance trust has uncovered a “command > and control†culture, which has led to bullying and poor staff morale. > Full story: http://www.healthypages.net/news-1.asp?newsid=2957 > > Young gay men at risk of depression > Many young homosexual men are anxious and depressed, and are continuing to > have unprotected sex despite public health campaigns, according to > researchers. > Full story: http://www.healthypages.net/news-1.asp?newsid=2955 > > GPs “need more guidance on autism†> Despite seeing increasing numbers of patients with autism, many GPs feel > that they lack the skills and training needed to identify these patients, > according to research. > Full story: http://www.healthypages.net/news-1.asp?newsid=2954 > > Lord Hunt resigns over war with Iraq > Health Minister Lord Philip Hunt has resigned from the government over its > stance on war with Iraq. > Full story: http://www.healthypages.net/news-1.asp?newsid=2953 > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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