Journal of women's health
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Journal of women's health · Nov 2004
The impact of the Women's Health Initiative on hormone replacement therapy in a Medicaid program.
Observational studies suggest that hormone replacement therapy (HRT) reduces women's risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). However the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) HRT arm was stopped early because of increased risk of CVD, stroke, pulmonary embolism, and breast cancer. Evaluating HRT-prescribing patterns in relation to the release of the WHI will help determine if these study results have influenced the use of HRT. ⋯ The WHI influenced all types of HRT use among postmenopausal women in a Medicaid program. Administrative claims data can be a useful tool for monitoring an immediate impact of national guidelines or a national level outcomes trial.