Menopause hormone therapy prescribing in ambulatory care visits among midlife and older U.S. women from 2018 to 2019

• Published in: Maturitas Vol. 184; p. 107997
• Main Authors: Sobel, Talia H., Lisha, Nadra E., Huang, Alison J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Ireland Elsevier B.V 01.06.2024
• Subjects: Age Factors; Aged; Ambulatory Care - statistics & numerical data; Depression - drug therapy; Estradiol - therapeutic use; Estrogen Replacement Therapy - statistics & numerical data; Female; Health Care Surveys; Hispanic or Latino - statistics & numerical data; Hormone therapy; Humans; Menopause; Middle Aged; Practice Patterns, Physicians' - statistics & numerical data; Prescribing rates; United States; Vasomotor symptoms; United States; Vasomotor symptoms; Hormone therapy; Menopause; Prescribing rates
• ISSN: 0378-5122; 1873-4111
• DOI: 10.1016/j.maturitas.2024.107997

•The rates of prescription for menopause hormone therapy continue to be low in the U.S.•Estrogen-only therapy was more often prescribed than estrogen-progestin therapy.•Hormone therapy was prescribed more in visits with a diagnosis of depression.•Hormone therapy was prescribed more in visits with women of White race.•Hormone therapy was prescribed less in visits with older and Hispanic/Latina women. The rates of prescription for menopause hormone therapy have been low in the U.S. since the 2002 Women's Health Initiative study, but no recent studies have assessed the prescribing of hormone therapy in the U.S. Using the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey data from 2018 to 2019, we found that hormone therapy was prescribed in 3.8 % of U.S. visits by midlife and older women, with 60 % of these visits including estradiol-only prescriptions. Older age and Hispanic/Latina ethnicity were associated with decreased odds of prescribing, while White race and depression were associated with increased odds, indicating possible disparities in menopause care.