HRT, progesterone use protective against high-risk serrated polyps

Women who are exposed to hormone replacement therapy (HRT) or medications that contain progesterone regardless of duration are less likely to develop high-risk serrated polyps (HRSP), according to a study.

The analysis included 1,384 women undergoing screening-related colonoscopy. Researchers applied modified Poisson regression models with robust error variance to estimate the relative risk of developing adenomatous polyps, serrated polyps, high-risk adenomatous polyps (HRAPs), and HRSPs associated with pregnancy, menopausal status, and the use of HRT (duration and type).

Results showed that women who used HRT for ≥6 years had a significantly lower risk of developing a HRSP (risk ratio [RR], 0.53, 95 percent confidence interval [CI], 0.29–0.97).

The use of HRT that included progesterone alone or with oestrogen, irrespective of the duration of use, also appeared to confer a significantly lower risk of developing a HRSP (RR, 0.54, 95 percent CI, 0.30–0.95).

Meanwhile, the use of HRT with progesterone for ≥6 years was associated with lower, although not significant, risk of developing a HRSP (RR, 0.42, 95 percent CI, 0.17–1.04).

None of the reproductive factors examined or HRT were associated with the development of adenomatous polyps or HRAPs.

HRT and parity have been reported to exert protective effects on the development of colorectal polyps. The present data may have important implications, such as facilitate targeted screening for serrated polyps among women.