KARACHI, Aug 7: Out of 70 million female population of Pakistan, 12 % viz 8.4 million are above 50 years of age and potential osteoporosis patients.

This was stated by health experts while briefing newsmen in Karachi on Wednesday on the risks involved in Hormone Replacement Therapy.

Dr Rubina Idrees, consultant gynaecologist, Ziauddin Hospital, said that recently a long-term trial was conducted in the USA to determine whether the use of HRT would protect such patients from cardiovascular risk (heart attack and strokes), besides managing post- menopausal symptoms.

She said that the overall health risks exceeded the benefits from the use of combined oestrogen plus progestin for an average period of 5.2 years follow-up among healthy post-menopausal women.

Aneesuddin Bhatti, orthopaedic surgeon JPMC, said that HRT had been available for clinical use for over two decades for the treatment of post-menopausal symptoms including flushing, palpitation. Recently, experts have also advocated the management of osteoporosis alongwith controlling postmenstrual symptoms.

“Though clinicians are using HRT on their patients, the safety issue has not been addressed clearly. While some doctors are against its use on long-term basis, especially in patients with risk factors for breast and uterine cancers, others are confident on long-term basis especially in patients with risk factors for breast and uterine cancers, others are confident about its efficacy and safety” he added.

Dr Asghar Naqvi, director medical services MSD, said that menopause among females was a major cause of osteoporosis and it was a known fact that females after 45 years tended to loose bone-mass which ultimately led to osteoporosis and increased their risk of developing fractures since their bones became weak.

“Amongst osteoporosis fractures, the hip fracture is the most commonly reported. Nearly 50 % of all hip fracture patients never regain their normal life style”, he added.—PPI