Our Review Summary
This story reports on an article published in this week’s Journal of the American Medical Association. The article presents follow-up data from the landmark Women’s Health Initiaive on the risks and benefits of hormone therapy. The new data shows that at three years after stopping hormone therapy, there was no increased risk of heart disease in the hormone therapy group, however the increase in breast cancer risk did persist at three years.
The story does not provide adequate details about alternatives to hormone therapy for menopausal symptoms or about lower-hormone options that could potentially confer less risk.
The story does not quantify the risks of hormone therapy, in absolute terms or otherwise. This is particularly important for this subject because the risks involved are realtively small. For example, in the study, the risk of breast cancer was less than one half of one percent per year in the hormone therapy group.
Furthermore, other than to describe the study as "sweeping", the story does not adequately describe the strength of the new evidence. Most importantly, the story does not explain that these findings do not necessarily apply to younger women who take hormone therapy for shorter periods of time.
Overall, in focusing solely on the risks of hormone therapy, this story implies that it is not a reasonable choice for women. In reality, when taken by women who are actively experiencing symptoms for short periods of time, hormone therapy is safe and effective.
Criteria
Not Applicable
There was no discussion of the costs involved with hormone replacement therapy although, with a story about risks of HRT, it is somewhat understandable that a discussion of costs was not vital.
Not Satisfactory
The story does not quantify the risks of hormone therapy, in absolute terms or otherwise. This is particularly important for this subject because the risks involved are relatively small. For example, in the study, the risk of breast cancer was less than one half of one percent per year in the hormone therapy group.
Satisfactory
The story mentions blood clots, breast cancer, and heart attack as risks of hormone therapy.
Not Satisfactory
Other than to describe the study as "sweeping" the story does not adequately describe the strength of the new evidence. Most importantly, the story does not explain that these findings do not necessarily apply to younger women who take hormone therapy for shorter periods of time.
Satisfactory
The story does not engage in disease mongering.
Satisfactory
The story quotes more than one expert.
Not Satisfactory
The story briefly mentions that "many women taking HRT are getting a treatment which is considered safer, often at half the dose and only for a couple of years" but that gives the viewer little information about what that option is or how much safer it may be.
Satisfactory
Clearly hormone therapy is available.
Satisfactory
Clearly hormone therapy is not a new idea.
Satisfactory
Because the story quotes multiple experts, the viewer can assume the story did not rely on a press release as the sole source of information.
Total Score: 6 of 9 Satisfactory
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