Evaluation of hormone replacement therapy use by the sales figures

Despite the efficiency of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) to prevent clim acteric manifestations and. possibly the long-term deleterious influences o f menopause, the prevalence of HRT is relatively low, and quite variable, d epending on the population studied. Presently, there is no information rega rding HRT in Switzerland a:nd in the region of Geneva, which have particula rly aged populations, with a life expectancy among the longest in the Weste rn world. In this study, the number of women treated per year in 1993 and 1 996, as well as the prevalence of HRT were estimated, based on the total am ount of hormone preparations sold for HRT. In Switzerland, for a female pop ulation older than 45 years of about 1.45 million, the number of women on H RT was approximately 166 000 in 1993 and 202 000 in 1996. For Geneva, the f emale population was more than 86 000, and the number of treated women was about 14 000 and 21 000 in 1993 and 1996, respectively. Depending on the ag e class considered as susceptible of receiving HRT, the prevalence of this therapy may vary between 15 and 20% for Switzerland, and between 21 and 27% for Geneva in 1993. It was estimated between 17 and 24%, and 31 and 41% in 1996. These values are quite comparable to those reported for other countr ies with a similar socioeconomic level and obtained using different methods of evaluation (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.