Hormone Therapy and Breast Cancer Risk
Author Information
Author(s): Lee S A, Ross R K, Pike M C
Primary Institution: University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine
Hypothesis
Is oestrogen–progestin therapy associated with an increased risk of breast cancer?
Conclusion
The study found that oestrogen–progestin therapy is associated with a 7.6% increase in breast cancer risk per year of use.
Supporting Evidence
- EPT use is associated with a 7.6% increase in breast cancer risk per year.
- The risk was lower in US studies compared to European studies.
- Continuous-combined EPT use showed a higher risk than sequential EPT use.
- Current EPT use was associated with a higher risk than past use.
Takeaway
Using hormone therapy after menopause can make it more likely to get breast cancer, especially the longer you use it.
Methodology
A meta-analysis of studies evaluating the relationship between oestrogen–progestin therapy and breast cancer risk.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to the exclusion of studies that did not adjust for age at menopause.
Limitations
The analysis was limited by the number of studies that provided specific data on past hormone therapy use.
Participant Demographics
The studies included postmenopausal women from various demographics, primarily from the US and Europe.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.002
Confidence Interval
95% CI=1.070, 1.082
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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