Estrogen replacement therapy among elderly women: Results from the 1995 Medicare current beneficiary survey

Research Objectives: To develop population-based estimates of estrogen repl acement therapy use rates in 1995 among women over age 65 Living in the com munity; to estimate the impact of socioeconomic and health characteristics on estrogen use. Method: Estimates are based on a large, nationally representative sample of Medicare beneficiaries; detailed self-report data were merged with Medicar e claims. Results: Overall, 13.1% of women reported use of estrogen replacement thera py in 1995. Estrogen users were moro Likely to be white, age 65-74, with pr ivate insurance, high income, history of osteoporosis and heart problems, n o history of breast cancer, and a patient of gynecologists. Conclusions: Estrogen use was substantially lower among the socioeconomical ly disadvantaged, controlling for medical history variables, suggesting con siderable inequity in access to estrogen replacement therapy treatment.