Women in ethnic minorities are less likely to take HRT
======================================================


Hormone replacement therapy is believed to prevent cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis, though some consider that the effect is due to its use by healthy women. To investigate its use among women from ethnic minorities, some of whom have high rates of heart disease and osteoporosis, [Harris et al](http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/short/319/7210/610) did a population based survey of women aged 40-59 in nine London general practices. Women from ethnic minorities (882 of 941 screened), particularly south Asians, were less likely to use hormone replacement therapy than white women; the differences were independent of factors such as age, smoking, and hysterectomy. The authors say that assessment for hormone replacement offers opportunities for health promotion which are being missed in ethnic minority groups.