Hormone replacement therapy: characteristics of users and non-users in a British general practice cohort identified through computerised prescribing records.

Abstract

Electronic general practice prescribing records provide a feasible and efficient method for recruiting women to a cohort of HRT. Women who agreed to participate in this study were not representative of the general population, emphasising the importance of internal controls in such a study. Among participants, HRT users who had not undergone hysterectomy showed evidence of better health than non-users on some dimensions. In the whole sample, however, there were no appreciable differences in social class and self reported health indicators between users and controls.