Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41808362›Full record

SynthesisAnnals of medicine2026

Relationship between menopausal hormone therapy and incidence risk of breast cancer: systematic review and meta-analysis.

Qing Wu, Liwen Shen, Shengtao Hu, Rui Yang, Yingnan Wang, Dixuan Xue, Yuchen Sun, Haiyan Ma, Zhijun Dai

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Annals of medicine, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Qing WuSchool of Public Health and Nursing, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
Liwen ShenSchool of Public Health and Nursing, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
Shengtao HuDepartment of Breast Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
Rui YangDepartment of Breast Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.ORCID 0000-0002-9679-7338
Yingnan WangDepartment of Breast Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
Dixuan XueDepartment of Breast Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
Yuchen SunDepartment of Breast Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
Haiyan MaSchool of Public Health and Nursing, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
Zhijun DaiDepartment of Breast Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundMenopausal hormone therapy (MHT) is widely prescribed for alleviating menopausal symptoms. Prior studies have mainly focused on individual hormone therapy formulations. This meta-analysis comprehensively synthesized evidence across various regimens to systematically evaluate the association between MHT and breast cancer risk. MATERIALS AND

methodsWe systematically searched CNKI, Wanfang, PubMed, and Web of Science from inception through August 2024. Eligible studies examining breast cancer risk following MHT were independently screened and assessed by two reviewers. The review and meta-analysis followed PRISMA guidelines.

resultsThirty-four studies were included. The random-effects model showed a significant but heterogeneous overall association (OR = 1.15, 95% CI: 1.09-1.22;

conclusionsMHT is associated with a modest but significant increase in breast cancer risk, primarily driven by EPT. This risk was not observed with ET in observational studies, though trials suggested a protective effect. Crucially, the association shows marked geographical heterogeneity, indicating risk is modified by regimen and regional factors.

Indexed as

Breast NeoplasmsEstrogen Replacement TherapyHormone Replacement TherapyMenopauseEstrogensFemaleHumansIncidenceProgestinsRisk FactorsEstrogensProgestinsBreast cancerestrogen-progestin therapyhormone therapymenopausalmeta-analysis

Identifiers

PMID41808362
PMCPMC12981265

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.