ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of hormone (oestrogen) replacement therapy (HRT) on the risk of falling among early postmenopausal women. METHODS: We assessed the incidence of falls in HRT users compared to non-users using population-based data from the Kuopio Osteoporosis Risk Factor and Prevention (OSTPRE) Study. The study group consisted of 9792 postmenopausal women who responded to the OSTPRE baseline and follow-up inquiries. RESULTS: A total of 3049 women reported sustaining a fall during the previous 12 months. The association between current continuous use of HRT and overall risk of falling was non-significant - 9% (P = 0.10). However, current continuous HRT use was associated with a decreased risk (- 30%) of non-slip falls (N = 1129) (P = 0.0001) but not with the risk (+ 9%) of slip falls (N = 1757) (P = 0.23). In early postmenopausal women (time since menopause < 5 years) the protective effect of current continuous HRT was strengthened: the risk of non-slip falls was 71% lower in HRT users than non-users (P = 0.0035) if menopause had occurred within the past 2.5 years, and 43% lower (P = 0.0015) if time since menopause was 2.5-5 years. CONCLUSION: Hormone replacement therapy may reduce the risk of non-slip falls in early postmenopausal women.
