Clinical Summary

Significant Increase in HRT Prescribing In the Past Decade

Vinrod Rane, BS Pharm | Disclosures

Takeaway

A significant increase in new prescriptions of hormonal replacement therapy medicines was seen during 2010-2021 in the UK.
There was a significant increase in the prescriptions of hormonal replacement therapy for women in their 50s, non-oral formulations of hormonal replacement therapy, and fixed combinations of oestrogen and progesterone.

Findings support the recommendation of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines to review and weigh the risk/benefits of hormonal replacement therapy treatment regularly.

This population-based drug utilisation study included 1,908,177 women with recorded menopause (age ≥50 years), identified using data from the UK IQVIA Medical Research Database (IMRD; 2010-2021).
Funding: None.

The incidence rate of first prescriptions of hormonal replacement therapy medicines increased from 5.01/1000 person-years at risk (95% CI 4.87 to 5.14) in 2010 to 18.16/1000 person-years at risk (95% CI 17.66 to 18.67) in 2021, corresponding to an average annual relative increase of 13.64% (95% CI 6.97% to 20.30%) per year.
The incidence rate of fixed combination prescriptions of oestrogen and progesterone increased from 3.33/1000 person-years at risk (95% CI 3.22 to 3.45) in 2010 to 12.23/1000 person-year at risk (95% CI 11.88 to 12.59) in 2021, corresponding to an average annual increase of 17.6% (95% CI 11.51% to 23.85%).
The incidence rate of transdermal formulation prescriptions increased from 1.48/1000 person-years at risk (95% CI 1.41 to 1.55) in 2010 to 14.55/1000 person-years at risk (95% CI 14.17 to 14.94) in 2021, corresponding to an average annual increase of 31.51% (95% CI 20.90% to 42.12%).