QUALITY-OF-LIFE AND PATIENT PREFERENCE FOR SEQUENTIAL VERSUS CONTINUOUS COMBINED HRT - THE UK KLIOFEM(R) MULTICENTER STUDY EXPERIENCE

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) must be taken for many years to atta in the long-term benefits on osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease. However, this level of compliance with HRT is rarely achieved. This an alysis documents the effect of continuous combined HRT with Kliogest(R ) on the relief of menopausal symptoms, and the patient preference for HRT over a 9-month treatment period. A total of 2151 postmenopausal w omen, of whom 1435 were currently on sequential therapy and 716 had no t been previously treated, were enrolled from 55 centers in the UK. Wo men received a daily tablet of Kliogest for 9 months. Quality of life was assessed using the Greene Climacteric Scale, and the women complet ed patient preference questionnaires. Treatment with continuous combin ed therapy was at least as effective as previous sequential regimens i n alleviating menopausal symptoms. By the study conclusion, patient pr eference was strongly in favor of Kliogest with 91% of completers pref erring it to their previous sequential therapy. Improved quality of li fe and patient preference for continuous combined therapy may encourag e long-term compliance with treatment, allowing more women to experien ce the long-term beneficial effects of HRT on osteoporosis and cardiov ascular disease. (C) 1997 International Federation of Gynecology and O bstetrics.