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Abstract

The Women's Health Initiative (WHI) was initiated in 1992 as a major disease-prevention research program among postmenopausal women. The program includes a randomized controlled intervention trial involving 68,132 women and four distinct interventions: conjugated equine estrogens, alone or in combination with medroxyprogesterone acetate, for coronary heart disease prevention with breast cancer as an anticipated adverse effect; a low-fat eating pattern for breast and colorectal cancer prevention; and calcium and vitamin D supplementation for hip fracture prevention. Results from this multifaceted trial have made a substantial impact in clinical practice. A companion cohort study among 93,676 women serves as a source for new risk factor information and provides a comparative observational assessment of the clinical trial interventions. A specimen repository and quality-controlled outcome data for a range of diseases are among the resources that support the ongoing research program. WHI clinical trial contributions and challenges are reviewed and discussed.

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/content/journals/10.1146/annurev.publhealth.29.020907.090947
2008-04-21
2024-03-28
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  • Article Type: Review Article
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