Table 1

Breast cancer screening outcome in postmenopausal women for users of HRT compared to never users

Total women screened (n = 87967^a)

Women recalled to assessment

Adjusted RR (95% CI) of false positive recall^b

Heterogeneity/trend, p-value

No breast cancer (false positive recall)

Screen-detected breast cancer

%

n

%

n

Total

87,967

3.0

2,629

0.5

399

Never used HRT^c

44,620

2.4

1,057

0.4

193

1.00

χ²₁ (heterogeneity) = 90.1,

Ever used HRT

43,332

3.6

1,572

0.5

206

1.47 (1.36–1.60)

P < 0.001

Past user of HRT

13,829

2.8

382

0.3

48

1.21 (1.06–1.38)

Time since last use (median)

χ²₁ (trend) = 14.0, p < 0.001

Current user (0 years)

28,788

4.0

1,157

0.5

154

1.64 (1.50–1.80)

<1 year since last use (0.5 years)

1,764

3.6

63

0.3

6

1.42 (1.08–1.86)

1–4 years since last use (2 years)

5,931

3.0

176

0.4

21

1.23 (1.04–1.46)

≥5 years since last use (7 years)

3,813

2.4

92

0.3

13

1.07 (0.85–1.34)

Duration of use among current users of HRT (median)

χ²₁ (trend) = 2.1, p = 0.2

<1 year (0.5 years)

1,935

3.9

75

0.3

5

1.41 (1.10–1.81)

1–4 years (3 years)

9,790

4.2

410

0.6

54

1.58 (1.40–1.79)

5–9 years (6 years)

11,280

3.9

441

0.6

71

1.74 (1.53–1.97)

≥10 years (11 years)

4,963

3.9

193

0.4

21

1.74 (1.46–2.06)

Duration of use among past users of HRT (median)

χ²₁ (trend) = 8.4, p = 0.004

<1 year (0.5 years)

4,014

2.4

95

0.3

13

0.95 (0.77–1.18)

1–4 years (3 years)

5,152

2.8

143

0.3

17

1.29 (1.07–1.56)

≥5 years (8 years)

3,061

3.4

104

0.5

14

1.54 (1.23–1.93)

^aNumbers do not always add up to total due to missing values. ^bStratified by screening centre, age, time since menopause, previous screening, body mass index and previous breast operation. ^cReference group. CI, confidence interval; HRT, hormone replacement therapy; RR, relative risk.

Banks et al. Breast Cancer Research 2006 8:R8   doi:10.1186/bcr1364