Commentary on the Women's Health Initiative

The Women's Health Initiative (WHI), established by the National Institutes of Health in 1991, is a long-term national health study that focuses on st rategies for preventing heart disease, breast and colorectal cancer and ost eoporosis in postmenopausal women. These chronic diseases are the major cau ses of death, disability and frailty in older women of all races and socioe conomic backgrounds. The WHI a 15-year multi-million dollar endeavor, and o ne of the largest U.S. prevention studies of its kind. The study involves o ver 161 000 women aged 50-79, and is one of the most definitive, far reachi ng clinical trials of women's health ever undertaken in the U.S. The WHI Cl inical Trial and Observational Study will attempt to address many of the in equities in women's health research and provide practical information to wo men and their physicians about hormone replacement therapy, dietary pattern s and calcium/vitamin D supplements, and their effects on the prevention of heart disease, cancer and osteoporosis. Emerging information from the NIH Women's Health Initiative and other studies of women's health begun in the 1990's should be changing the landscape of options for older women in the y ears to come. Published by Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserve d.