Hormone replacement therapy before breast cancer diagnosis significantly reduces the overall death rate compared with never-use among 984 breast cancer patients
1999
Hormone Replacement Therapy and Breast Cancer Survival
Sample size: 984
publication
Evidence: high
Author Information
Author(s): Jernström H, Frenander J, Fernö M, Olsson H
Primary Institution: Department of Oncology, University Hospital of Lund
Hypothesis
Does hormone replacement therapy before breast cancer diagnosis affect overall survival rates?
Conclusion
Using hormone replacement therapy before a breast cancer diagnosis is linked to a lower death rate among patients.
Supporting Evidence
- Ever-use of hormone replacement therapy was significantly associated with longer overall survival.
- The relative risk of dying for HRT users was 0.73.
- HRT use was independently associated with longer survival after adjusting for various factors.
- Oestrogen receptor positivity was significantly associated with overall longer survival.
- Progesterone receptor positivity was also significantly associated with longer overall survival.
Takeaway
Women who used hormone replacement therapy before being diagnosed with breast cancer lived longer than those who didn't.
Methodology
Patients were interviewed about hormonal use, and survival rates were analyzed based on their HRT usage.
Participant Demographics
Breast cancer patients in Southern Sweden, ages 45 and above.
Statistical Information
P-Value
P = 0.0005
Confidence Interval
95% CI 0.62–0.87
Statistical Significance
p<0.0005
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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