Effects of postmenopausal hormone therapy on rheumatoid arthritis: the women's health initiative randomized controlled trials.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To study the effects of postmenopausal hormone therapy (PHT) on the incidence and severity of rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods

The Women's Health Initiative randomized controlled trials evaluated the effects of unopposed estrogen (E-alone) and estrogen plus progestin (E+P) compared with placebo on a diverse set of health outcomes over 7.1 and 5.6 years, respectively. RA cases were identified using historical and medication data. The hazard of developing RA was estimated using Cox proportional hazards regression models. Disease symptom severity was estimated using the Short Form 36 (SF-36) and self-reported joint pain scores at baseline and after 1 year. Mean changes in severity were compared using linear regression models.

Results

Of the 27,347 participant

SUBMITTER: Walitt B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2661110 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature