Langer R D, Barrett-Connor E
Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla.
Geriatrics. 1994 Dec;49(12):20-4; 29.
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) after menopause may prevent cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis, chronic diseases that become increasingly important with age. For cardiovascular disease, this protection may be greatest in women with more risk factors, including age. Data suggest that HRT may mitigate bone loss in women 15 years or more past menopause, but reports are inconclusive regarding how HRT initiated after substantial bone is lost affects fracture incidence. The most troubling question is the possible association between HRT and breast cancer. Both clinician and patient must be aware of the potential for hormone-related symptoms following the initiation of HRT. Most symptoms fade in the first few months, but older women may be less willing to accept these problems unless they are provided a clear rationale for therapy.
绝经后激素替代疗法（HRT）可能预防心血管疾病和骨质疏松症，这两种慢性病随着年龄增长愈发重要。对于心血管疾病，这种保护作用在具有更多风险因素（包括年龄）的女性中可能最为显著。数据表明，HRT可能减轻绝经15年及以上女性的骨质流失，但关于在大量骨质流失后开始使用HRT如何影响骨折发生率的报告尚无定论。最令人担忧的问题是HRT与乳腺癌之间可能存在的关联。临床医生和患者都必须意识到开始HRT后出现激素相关症状的可能性。大多数症状在最初几个月会逐渐消失，但老年女性可能不太愿意接受这些问题，除非她们得到治疗的明确理由。
