Hormone Therapy Use After Premature Surgical Menopause Based on Prescription Records: A Population-Based Study

Abstract

Objective

Premature surgical menopause (PSM) without subsequent hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can lead to morbidity and mortality. Our objective was to describe the use of HRT following PSM and identify variables associated with HRT use based on prescription records from a population-based cohort.

Methods

A population-based retrospective cohort of women in British Columbia, Canada who underwent PSM between the ages of 19 and 49 years. Women were identified using surgical data from the Discharge Abstract Database and linked to HRT prescription histories from the BC PharmaNet database for the period of 2004 to 2014. HRT prescription rates were calculated, and factors associated with postoperative HRT use were identified.

Results

A total of 12 837 women were included, with a median age of 43 years. They had undergone BSO with concurrent hysterectomy (49.9%). bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (BSO) alone (42.1%), or bilateral oophorectomy (BO) (8%). The most common indications for surgery were endometriosis (17.9%), benign adnexal neoplasm (17.2%), and abnormal bleeding (14.0%). Only 55.3% of women ever used HRT, and 47.9% of these women used HRT for less than 1 year. HRT use was higher among women who underwent concurrent hysterectomy (60.7% vs. 50%, P < 0.001). This association remained significant after multivariate adjustment (aOR 1.64; 95% CI 1.50–1.79). Women with a known BRCA mutation were also more likely to use HRT postoperatively (aOR 3.73; 95% CI 2.14–6.81).

Conclusion

In this large population-based study, HRT use after PSM was 50%. Our study highlights the need for education of both health care providers and patients, and for ongoing follow-up in this young population.