OBJECTIVE: This study aims to present methods and baseline data from the Early versus Late Intervention Trial with @entity53 (ELITE), the only clinical trial designed to specifically test the timing hypothesis of postmenopausal @entity34 ( @entity34 ). The timing hypothesis posits that @entity34 effects depend on the temporal initiation of @entity34 relative to time since menopause. METHODS: ELITE is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial with a 2 * 2 factorial design. Six hundred forty-three healthy postmenopausal @entity1 without @entity65 were randomized to oral @entity53 or placebo for up to 6 to 7 years according to time since menopause (<6 or >= 10 y). @entity2998 ( @entity2998 ) and cardiac computed tomography were conducted to determine @entity34 effects on subclinical @entity731 across menopause strata. RESULTS: @entity1 in the early and late postmenopausal strata were well-separated by mean age (55.4 vs 65.4 y) and median time since menopause (3.5 vs 14.3 y). Expected risk factors (age, blood pressure, and body mass index) were associated with @entity2998 at baseline in both strata. In the early postmenopausal group, but not in the late postmenopausal group, we observed significant associations between @entity2998 and factors that may play a role in the responsiveness of @entity731 progression according to timing of @entity34 initiation. These include low-density lipoprotein @entity165 , high-density lipoprotein @entity165 , sex hormone-binding globulin, and serum total @entity53 . CONCLUSIONS: The ELITE randomized controlled trial is timely and unique. Baseline data indicate that ELITE is well-positioned to test the @entity34 timing hypothesis in relation to @entity731 progression and @entity453 .

Methods and baseline cardiovascular data from the Early versus Late Intervention Trial with XXXX testing the menopausal hormone timing hypothesis.

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['women', 'Participants'] @entity2998 :: ('MESH:D002340', 'Disease') :: ['CIMT', 'Carotid artery intima-media thickness'] @entity53 :: ('MESH:D004958', 'Chemical') :: ['Estradiol', 'estradiol'] @entity453 :: ('MESH:D003324', 'Disease') :: ['coronary artery disease'] @entity731 :: ('MESH:D050197', 'Disease') :: ['atherosclerosis'] @entity65 :: ('MESH:D002318', 'Disease') :: ['cardiovascular disease'] @entity165 :: ('MESH:D002784', 'Chemical') :: ['cholesterol'] @entity34 :: ('MESH:D016609', 'Disease') :: ['hormone therapy', 'HT']
@entity53 :: (MESH:D004958,Chemical) :: ['Estradiol']
