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QUESTION: In postmenopausal women receiving hormone replacement therapy (HRT), what is the risk for venous thromboembolism (VTE)?
Data sources
Studies were identified by searching Medline (1966 to 2000), HealthSTAR (1975 to 2000), and the Cochrane Controlled Trials Register, and by scanning the bibliographies of relevant studies and reviews.
Study selection
Studies were selected if they were published in English or had English-language abstracts, enrolled postmenopausal women, and reported deep venous thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, or VTE as adverse events related to oestrogen use. Studies that selected participants on the basis of previous thromboembolic events or risk for thrombosis were excluded.
Data extraction
Data were extracted on participants, treatment (for randomised controlled trials [RCTs]), definition and method for determining exposure (for case control and cohort studies), event rates, confounders, outcome measurement, and study duration. 2 reviewers independently rated study quality.
Main results
12 trials were included: 3 RCTs, 8 case control studies, and 1 cohort study. Risk for …