Long term compliance with hormone replacement treatment following screening for postmenopausal osteoporosis by bone density measurements

Abstract

Summary Summary We contacted 352 postmenopausal women (mean age 52 years, range 45–80 years) by questionnaire 4 years after bone density measurements (all had responded to a previous postal survey 8 months after screening). Changes in compliance with hormone replacement and reasons for these changes were emulated. Replies were received from 301 women (85 per cent). One hundred and thirteen (37 per cent) were advised to take hormone replacement for skeletal protection and 90 (79 per cent) complied. At 8 months, 69 (61 per cent) were taking hormone treatment and at 46 months 52 (46 per cent) were continuing treatment. Compliance was limited by uncertainties surrounding the risks versus the benefits of treatment and the return of vaginal bleeding. Of those who commenced hormone replacement in response to advice. 53 (75 per cent) were a symptomatic and low bone density was the only rationale for treatment. We conclude that recommendations for hormone replacement based on bone density measurements leads to markedly improved compliance with treatment compared with background use in the postmenopausal population and targets the group of women at highest risk for fracture.