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Oestrogen-only Arm of the Women’s Health Initiative Study Halted
The oestrogen only arm of The Women’s Health Initiative study has been stopped after 7 years because a beneficial effect of hormone therapy on heart disease risk was not observed in the study. Furthermore, a small increase in strokes was noted, hip fractures were reduced and importantly breast cancer was not increased. |
The Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) is a very large study with 2 arms focusing on hormone therapy (HRT). Commencing in the United States of America in 1997 the study examined the role of long-term use of oral hormone therapy in women aged 50-79 years in preventing heart disease. It did not address the benefits of hormone therapy for the relief of menopausal symptoms.
The first arm of the study, the combined oral oestrogen plus progestin therapy arm of the study, was stopped in 2002. At this stage women had been participating for 5.2 years on average. It was stopped because there was a slightly greater rate of invasive breast cancer among the women taking the hormone therapy compared with women on the study who were not taking the hormone therapy but were taking a placebo (dummy) therapy.
Jean Hailes Director of Research, Professor Susan Davis said, “We have now been informed that the second arm of the WHI study, in which women were treated with oestrogen only (versus placebo) has been stopped, before the intended completion date in 2005.”
“This study is important because it adds further to our understanding of the risks and benefits of hormone therapy. Our understanding to date is that there is no increase in risk of cardiac events or of breast cancer in this oestrogen only arm of the study. We await the release of exact data, “ she said.
WHI researchers have begun a detailed analysis of the data from the oestrogen-alone study and expect to report full results in the next two months. A safety monitoring committee was responsible for ensuring that neither the women treated with hormone therapy, nor the women taking the placebo, were put at risk because of treatment or lack of treatment.
The Jean Hailes Foundation reconfirms that short term use of hormone therapy for the management of menopause symptoms that unacceptably impair a woman’s quality of life remains a reasonable option. However, long term use of hormone therapy for women over 50 years of age is rarely indicated.
Each individual woman should weigh up the benefits and risks of hormone therapy in consultation with her health practitioner.
What are the qualities of active people?
In line with The Jean Hailes Foundation’s philosophy in promoting healthier lifestyles, we are pleased to inform you that The University of Melbourne is running a study about the lifestyles and health of adults (38 – 62 years of age). Investigators are interested to know how you try to achieve an active lifestyle in your busy lives. Feedback will provide invaluable insights into how we can help others to live more active, healthy and fulfilling lives.
Participation involves: 1. A survey about your interest in and commitment to physical activities, as well as your life background, and 2. Some fun thinking skill tasks. If you are between 38 and 62 years of age you can take part, regardless of your level of physical activity. For further information please contact Chris on 03 9639 8993. This study is approved by the Human Research Ethics Committee, University of Melbourne, HREC 020656
Education Update
The Jean Hailes Education Unit is unique in Australia in its translation of the latest research findings into practical health and lifestyle approaches for all women and their families. By resourcing women, and their health professionals, we hope to achieve changes in attitude and culture that encourage women to make and implement informed choices about their own health care.
For Women
Community Seminar
Women Powering Through Midlife
May 5, 7:30pm – 9:45pm
Keysborough, Victoria In partnership with The Rotary Club of Mordialloc
Speaker Request Program
The Jean Hailes Foundation Speaker Request Program aims to inform the community about women’s health. It provides speakers who are health educators and who offer high quality, up to date health information to groups and organisations. To arrange a speaker for your group or organisation please call us on 03 9562 6771 or tollfree 1800 151 441.
Bone Health Website & CD-ROM
Osteoporosis is an old person's disease - true or false?
Osteoporosis affects us all as we get older but it can also affect people well before old age. Find out more about your bones on our new website www.bonehealthforlife.org.au.
Targeting women at all life stages, this website explores the causes, diagnosis, prevention and management of Osteoporosis. Written by Research Endocrinologist Dr Mary-Anne Papalia, this clear, comprehensive, evidence-based material contains separate consumer and health professional sections. The website has a matching CD-ROM and the first 1,000 are FREE! Order your CD-ROM by contacting Kellie Armstrong on 03 9562 6771 or tollfree on 1800 151 441.
For health professionals
 National launch of Midlife Resource Kit – good news for women across Australia
Launched in Brisbane in March at the Royal Flying Doctor Service training day, The Foundation is proud to announce that its Midlife Resource Kit, previously available only in Victoria, is now available to health professionals across Australia.
The kit has been described as ‘an unbelievably good resource' and 'an example of best practice in both planning and implementation'.
All health professionals who took part in the evaluation felt that having access to the kit had improved their confidence and ability to conduct community education sessions about midlife and related health issues.
'It's a wonderful opportunity to be able to use such a great kit, to enhance much needed information, to so many people requesting it' said one of the health professionals involved.
Developed in consultation with a rural steering committee of community health professionals and focus groups of women from rural and remote areas in Victoria, the kit includes two manuals combining up to date information on midlife health issues with practical teaching strategies, a CD-ROM and video.
For further information and/or to purchase resource kits please call tollfree 1800 151 441.
Training for health professionals in rural & remote areas
As part of its national focus The Jean Hailes Foundation is committed to providing professional development, in the field of midlife health, for health professionals working in rural and remote areas of Australia. The Foundation recently partnered the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) Queensland to up skill health professionals working in the RFDS Rural & Remote Women’s Health Program. Participants also received training in the newly launched Rural & Remote Resource Kit for Health Professionals and will now be able to take this information to the communities they service.
Omega 3: The Good Oil
By Dr Alice Murkies, co-author of Color Me Healthy: why you should eat almost everything
“Why should I eat more oil? It doesn’t make sense”, Marianne, a patient, asked me.
I agree. It does seem strange. Guess what? Fat is necessary - our bodies need fat. Fats supply essential fatty acids, such as linoleic and alpha-linolenic acid, which our body cannot make. These are needed for normal health and growth. Fat is needed for absorption of fat-soluble vitamins. These include vitamin A, D, E and K.
I’ll give you an example. Serving spinach with a drizzle of olive oil. The oil assists the absorption of the fatsoluble vitamins and anti-oxidants, like beta-carotene, from the spinach. Interesting isn’t it?
Our balance of oil intake has shifted over the years. We are consuming more omega 6 chain fatty acids, found in corn oil, safflower and sunflower oil, and less omega 3 chain fatty acids, found in seafood, flaxseed or soybean oil, walnuts and pecan nuts.
“Does it matter?” Marianne asked.
Yes, it does. The Heart Foundation is now recommending two fish meals per week, as populations who eat diets high in omega 3 fatty acids have a reduced risk of heart disease. Increasing the ratio of omega 3 – omega 6 fatty acids suppresses inflammation and may be helpful with arthritis.
I guess the answer is eating a varied, colourful diet in moderation.
Fish and Oil
Pink-fleshed fish, such as salmon, ocean trout, sardines and (to a lesser extent) tuna are rich in PUFAs (polyunsaturated fatty acids), especially Omega 3s. Oily fish from cold waters – including salmon, mackerel and herring – are particularly valuable food. Canned fish – salmon and sardines in particular – are among the easiest and cheapest sources of omega 3 and calcium. Canned fish is a perfectly acceptable snack or first course.
Recipe: Steamed Salmon Cutlets
This method can be adapted to white fish, although we prefer salmon or ocean trout. It can be cooked on a plate or in a steaming basket and is ideal for one or two people. If using cutlets, be sure to trim away the fatty end flaps if they have not already been trimmed. The fish tastes much better without them.
Ingredients
2 salmon fillets or cutlets
Half lemon or 1 – 2 tablespoons of dry white wine or Chinese rice wine
1 slice fresh ginger, slivered 1 or 2 spring onions, cut across
Method
Put the fish on a dinner plate. Scatter over the ginger and spring onions, then add the wine or lemon juice. Cover with a saucepan lid the size of the plate, or use another plate.
Set the plates over a pot of simmering water. Allow to cook for 5 minutes, then carefully lift the lid or top plate and check the fish. Turn it over, cover again and cook for another two minutes.
If the fish is not cooked through, allow another minute or remove the plates from the heat and allow to rest for two minutes more.
Serve with plenty of freshly ground pepper and a wedge of lemon. Sliced tomato and raw onion are optional extras. Delicious on wholemeal bread.
Variation
Wrap the fish in lettuce or spinach leaves and cook in a steaming basket.
From Color Me Healthy: Why you should eat almost everything by Rita Erlich and Dr Alice Murkies. Available for purchase from The Jean Hailes Foundation
 A Woman of Worth
Alma Davis (1918 – 2004)
In any new venture, along with passion and dedication, a multitude of skills, talents and expertise is needed to succeed. When The Jean Hailes Foundation was set up, following the death of Australian women’s health pioneer Dr Jean Hailes in 1988, there was plenty of medical and scientific ‘know-how’. After all, the team who came up with this unique way of honouring the lifelong work of Jean Hailes were all medical colleagues who shared her passion and vision regarding women’s health in Australia.
Alma Davis was not a scientist, doctor or educator, but her business acumen and working knowledge of the medical industry (daughter Sue Davis was among those first colleagues and is now Director of Research), coupled with her patience, kindness and passion made her an ideal candidate to help with the book-keeping in those all-important first years. In those early days everyone involved in setting up The Foundation worked voluntarily. Everything Alma gave was because she was deeply committed to a vision.
Alma’s enthusiasm never waned. She made herself available for The Foundation whenever necessary, and put her heart and soul into helping The Foundation grow to where it could begin to stand on its own two feet. The fact that The Jean Hailes Foundation stayed financially solvent in those early days and successfully negotiated financial audits in 1992-4 was in no small part due to Alma’s skills and expertise.
Despite her important and regular involvement over the years, Alma always kept a low profile, contributing her time and expertise without seeking recognition.
As with most people of considerable life experience, Alma had strong views on many issues. However, she rarely offered advice unless she thought it would be of direct benefit and then only in a positive and helpful way.
Alma continued to help with the finances at least until 1996, by which time the organisation had grown to a size that necessitated more formal financial management arrangements.
Vale Alma, we are forever grateful.
Peter Rogers, Director
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The Jean Hailes Foundation magazine is designed to be informative and educational. It is not intended that The Jean Hailes Foundation magazine provide specific medical advice or replace advice from your health professional. The Jean Hailes Foundation does not accept any liability to any person for the information or advice (or the use of information or advice) which is provided in this magazine or incorporated into it by reference. Information is provided on the basis that all persons reading the magazine undertake responsibility for assessing the relevance and accuracy of its content.
© The Jean Hailes Foundation. Apart from fair dealing for the purposes of private study, research, criticism or review, as permitted under copyright legislation, no part may be reproduced or reused for any commercial purposes.
Note: This article is an archive. Whilst the Jean Hailes Foundation for Women’s Health has made every effort to ensure this information was accurate at the time of publication, the article content has not been updated since the date listed below.
Content March 21, 2004
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