Abstract

Objectives: To evaluate the impact of low-dose oral estrogen therapy on the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in 45-64-year-old women from the East Metropolitan Health Service (SSMO) in Santiago, Chile. Material and methods: We conducted an observational cross-sectional study. A random population sample of women between 45 and 64 years of age was obtained through an invitation to contact one of 15 primary health care centers of the SSMO of Santiago, Chile. Out of the 927 women who were originally contacted, 844 women were able to complete the Menopausal Rating Scale (MRS) questionnaire. Information about demographic parameters, health issues, and modality of hormonal therapy (HT) were registered. Three groups were compared: group 1 (n = 647; non-users of HT), group 2 (n = 82; users of low-dose oral estrogen HT), and group 3 (n = 115; users of non low-dose estrogens HT). Results: There were no differences among groups in terms of demographic and health issue parameters. The results of the MRS scores (total score and somatic, psychological and urogenital domain scores) showed significant differences across the 3 study groups, with more favorable results for HRQoL in groups 2 and 3 (p < 0.01 for total, somatic, and psychological scores; p = 0.05 for urogenital score). Conclusion: Climacteric women in the 45-64 age range using HT were shown to have a more favorable impact on HRQoL than non-HT users. Women using low-dose oral estrogen HT had a positive effect on HRQoL, similar to that obtained using non low-dose estrogen regimens. © 2008 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.