Hormone therapy use has no bearing on severe COVID-19 outcomes

A recent study suggests that the use of hormone therapy does not contribute to increased risk of severe outcomes due to COVID-19 in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women.

Researchers conducted a retrospective study using data from the Rochester Epidemiology Project. They identified 689 patients aged 40–65 years (median age 56 years, 77.5 percent White) who had a documented case of COVID-19.

Outcomes included emergency department visits, hospitalizations, and deaths. Logistic regression models were used in the analysis.

Compared with participants currently using hormone therapy, those with past/never use of hormone therapy tended to be older, have more risk factors for severe COVID-19, and have a higher incidence of diabetes.

A total of 102 emergency department visits/hospitalizations/deaths occurred in both groups. The rate and the risk of emergency department/hospitalization/death outcomes did not differ between participants with current hormone therapy use and those without hormone therapy use, even after controlling for age and severe COVID-19 risk factors.

The findings suggest that hormone therapy use does not pose any harm in women with severe symptoms of COVID-19