METHODS

Design:

randomised placebo controlled trial.

Allocation:

{allocation concealed*}†.

Blinding:

blinded {clinicians, participants, data collectors, outcome assessors, and monitoring committee}†.*

Follow up period:

mean 5.6 years.

Setting:

{40 US clinical centres.}†

Participants:

16 608 women who were 50–79 years of age (mean age 63 y) and had an intact uterus. {Exclusion criteria included probable survival of <3 years, cancer in the past 10 years, and low haematocrit or platelet counts.}†

Intervention:

a single table of either conjugated equine oestrogen, 0.625 mg/day and medroxyprogesterone acetate, 2.5 …