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HRT / ERT: UNDERUTILIZED THERAPIES
As a result of dramatic increases in life expectancy over the
last few decades, women now may live one-third of their lives
postmenopause; today's women count upon maintaining a high
quality of life throughout these later years. Many mature women
expect to lead active lives and to participate in the work
force, as well as to remain attractive and sexually active -
goals that are not served by the symptoms of oestrogen
deficiency.
Accordingly, one might surmise that oestrogen
replenishment/replacement therapy (ERT) - or combined oestrogen-progestogen
hormone replenishment therapy (HRT) for women with an intact
uterus - would be widely sought solutions to menopause-related
conditions. Yet, despite the fact that ERT has improved the
quality of life for many women worldwide for over 50 years, only
25 million of the 700 million women over age 49 in the world
today choose ERT in any given year; millions never even try
therapy.
This means that only 1.8% of oestrogen-deficient women
internationally receive ERT. In addition, 80% of those women who
begin ERT abandon therapy after six months.
To explore issues surrounding discontinuance of ERT and HRT and
compliance to therapy, Wyeth-Ayerst International Inc.,
commissioned several market analysis studies around the world.
Three separate focus groups - physicians, women who successfully
are taking HRT, and women who discontinued HRT - were convened
in eight countries: the United Kingdom, Canada, France, Germany,
Italy, Brazil, Chile and Argetina. The research revealed - not
surprisingly - that patient compliance to HRT is enhanced when
the physician encourages communication with the patient,
promotes trust by providing comprehensive information, maintains
sensitivity to the issues surrounding compliance, and follows up
diligently.
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