Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) may increase the risk of death in countries such as Italy where there is a low level of heart disease, anyway.
Researchers there found that, rather than protecting women from fatal heart problems, HRT was increasing the risks in Italian women.
The chances of developing breast cancer increased by up to 1.46 times if the therapy was used for between 15 and 20 years, while the risks for heart disease increased by 0.88 times after five years
See WDDTY vol 4, nos 9 & 10 for more information on HRT.
!ABMJ, 1996; 313: 687.