Bone Mineral Density Change Within 2 Years After Discontinuing Hormone Therapy In Postmenopausal Women

Abstract

Objective To assess the rate of changes in vertebral and femoral BMD after HT cessation.

Design Retrospective descriptive Study

Setting Menopause Clinic, Srinagarind Hospital, Khon Kaen, Thailand

Materials and Methods Medical records of 88 postmenopausal women who had taken HT for 1 to 5 years were reviewed. In all women, BMD was assessed within the last 6 months before HT withdrawal, then at least once within the first 24 months after treatment cessation. The rates of BMD changes were analyzed.

Results Mean age of the assessed women was 54+5.6 years. Baselines BMD before starting HT were 0.979+0.130 g/cm² and 0.902+0.107 g/cm² at vertebral and femoral site, respectively. Mean vertebral BMD before and after discontinuation of HT were 1.004+0.134 g/cm² and 0.975+0.125 g/cm² while mean femoral BMD before and after discontinuation of HT were 0.903+0.108 g/cm² and 0.885+0.103 g/cm². After cessation of HT, the rates of vertebral and femoral BMD changes were -1.33 % and -0.99%, respectively. The numbers of postmenopausal women who had accelerated bone loss of at least 3% were 23.9% and 18.2% at lumbar spines and femur, respectively.

Conclusion According to this study, average rate of bone loss were not accelerated within the first 2 years after cessation of HT.