Hormonal replacement therapy in Spain

BACKGROUND: The consumption of hormonal replacement therapy (HRT) in Spain is not known. Therefore, we have conducted a study to know the mean features of that consumption and to find out the prevalence of use among women older than 40. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: To know the consumption, we have used the information contained in ECOM database from the Ministry of Health regarding medicines sold to the Spanish Health System. Also, data gathered by the General Practitioner Sentinel Network of Castilla y Leon had been used. The data of consumption are presented in daily defined dose per 1000 women more than 40 years (DHD); prevalence of use per year and for ages was also estimated. RESULTS: The HRT consumption in Spain throughout the National Health System was 6,94 DHD in 1989 and 39.92 DHD in 1999. The percentage of women using this therapy was 0.7% in 1989 and 3,4 in 1999; the group 50-54 years had the highest prevalence of use, 10,84% (IC 95%, 10.66-11.01). CONCLUSIONS: The release into the market of those transdermal forms of HRT facilitated an increase in the consumption. Nonetheless, the proportion of postmenopausal women on HRT in Spain is lower than that of the other countries from the European Union. The proportion of women treated with estrogens and progestins is also small compared with current recommendations.