How Much Have Women — and Society — Benefited from the Women's Health Initiative Findings?

Disease-simulation analysis suggests substantial economic benefits but failed to consider other important outcomes.

After findings from the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) estrogen plus progestin (EPT) clinical trial — a $260 million undertaking — were published in 2002, use of EPT and estrogen-only hormone therapy (HT) by U.S. women plummeted. Now, investigators have estimated the clinical and economic effects of this trial from a payer perspective. They developed a disease-simulation model to evaluate the trial's impact from 2003 to 2012 on women (age range, 50–79) with an intact uterus and estimated outcomes of a “WHI scenario” (based on lower prevalence of HT use resulting from WHI findings) versus a “no-WHI” scenario (based on trends in HT use before the WHI).

In the WHI scenario compared with the no-WHI scenario, 126,000 fewer cases of breast cancer…

Reviewing Author

Andrew M. Kaunitz MD

Disclosures

RoyaltiesUpToDate

Grant/Research SupportMerck, Mithra, Medicines360

Editorial BoardsContraception; Menopause; Contraceptive Technology Update; OBG Management; Medscape OB/GYN & Women’s Health

Andrew M. Kaunitz MD

Disclosures

RoyaltiesUpToDate

Grant/Research SupportMerck, Mithra, Medicines360

Editorial BoardsContraception; Menopause; Contraceptive Technology Update; OBG Management; Medscape OB/GYN & Women’s Health

How Much Have Women — and Society — Benefited from the Women's Health Initiative Findings?

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Reviewing Author