One can question whether results in the WHI study population, in which nearly 70% of the subjects were older than 60 years at baseline, can even be applied to younger women, particularly with regard to breast cancer risk and hormone therapy.
In addition, the duration of CEE use in the WHI remains problematic. The median “adherent time” was 3.5 years.
“Thus, the WHI results do not address the balance of risks and benefits associated with longer term estrogen use,” they concluded.
DR. JUNGHEIM and DR. COLDITZ are at Washington University, St. Louis. These remarks were taken from their accompanying editorial comment (JAMA 2011;305:1354–5). They reported no relevant financial disclosures.