Black and Hispanic women were more likely to discontinue systemic hormone therapy (HT) earlier than other women following natural menopause, according to a large retrospective study presented at The Menopause Society 2026 Annual Meeting in San Diego, highlighting persistent disparities in menopause treatment.
The study, led by Intira Sriprasert, MD, PhD, of the University of Southern California, analyzed insurance claims data for 318,621 women aged 45 to 60 years between 2009 and 2022 to evaluate systemic HT initiation and treatment persistence.
Among women who initiated treatment, Black race was associated with a 53% higher adjusted hazard of discontinuation (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 1.53; 95% CI, 1.35-1.74), while Hispanic ethnicity was associated with a 45% higher adjusted hazard (aHR, 1.45; 95% CI, 1.15-1.81).
Black women were also less likely to initiate systemic HT (adjusted odds ratio, 0.78; 95% CI, 0.68-0.89).
Black and Hispanic women were more likely to discontinue systemic hormone therapy (HT) earlier than other women following natural menopause, according to a large retrospective study presented at The Menopause Society 2026 Annual Meeting in San Diego, highlighting persistent disparities in menopause treatment.
The study, led by Intira Sriprasert, MD, PhD, of the University of Southern California, analyzed insurance claims data for 318,621 women aged 45 to 60 years between 2009 and 2022 to evaluate systemic HT initiation and treatment persistence.
Among women who initiated treatment, Black race was associated with a 53% higher adjusted hazard of discontinuation (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 1.53; 95% CI, 1.35-1.74), while Hispanic ethnicity was associated with a 45% higher adjusted hazard (aHR, 1.45; 95% CI, 1.15-1.81).
Black women were also less likely to initiate systemic HT (adjusted odds ratio, 0.78; 95% CI, 0.68-0.89).
