Table 1.
Overview of the characteristics of the included studies.
| Randomized controlled trials (n = 26 including 20 trials) | Observational studies (n = 47) | |
|---|---|---|
| N (%) | N (%) | |
| Ethnic group | ||
| Europe | 7 (26.9) | 29 (61.7) |
| North America | 19 (73.1) | 12 (25.5) |
| Rest of world | – | 6 (12.8) |
| Publication year | ||
| ≤ 2006 | 18 (69.2) | 18 (38.3) |
| > 2006 | 8 (30.8) | 29 (61.7) |
| Age at baseline, years (median, range) | 63.6 (49.7–75.0) | 60.6 (48.8–77.0) |
| Timing of initiation of MHT*, † | ||
| Reported | 22 (84.6) | 36 (76.6) |
| Unreported | 4 (15.4) | 11 (23.4) |
| Underlying diseases | ||
| With | 17 (65.4) | 6 (12.8) |
| Without | 9 (34.6) | 41 (87.2) |
| Regimen type* | ||
| Reported | 19 (73.1) | 29 (617) |
| Unreported | 7 (26.9) | 18 (38.3) |
| Route of administration* | ||
| Reported | 25 (96.2) | 21 (44.7) |
| Unreported | 1 (3.8) | 26 (55.3) |
| Duration of MHT* | ||
| Reported | 26 (100.0) | 12 (25.5) |
| Unreported | – | 35 (74.5) |
| Outcomes* | ||
| All-cause death | 16 (61.5) | 15 (31.9) |
| Cardiovascular death | 10 (38.5) | 6 (12.8) |
| Stroke | 12 () | 14 (29.8) |
| VTE | 15 (57.7) | 13 (27.7) |
| PE | 7 (26.9) | 4 (8.5) |
| MI | 16 (61.5) | 10 (21.3) |
| CHD | 4 (15.4) | 7 (14.9) |
| Angina | 8 (30.8) | 1 (2.1) |
| Revascularization | 7 () | 0 (0.0) |
| Follow-up, years (median, range) | 3.4 (0.7–18) | 6.8 (1–21.5) |
| Study type* | ||
| Cohort study | – | 30 (63.8) |
| Case–control study | – | 13 (27.7) |
| Nested case–control study | – | 5 (10.6) |
CHD, coronary heart disease; MHT, menopausal hormone therapy; MI, myocardial infarction; PE, pulmonary embolism; VTE, venous thromboembolism. *Individual studies often included more than one subgroup; †Women under 60 years of age or those in whom MHT was initiated within 10 years after menopause were included in the early subgroup; the others were included in the late subgroup.