About WHI

The Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, WA was awarded the role of the WHI’s Clinical Coordinating Center (CCC). The CCC was responsible for maintaining consistency between the 40 clinical centers and collecting, managing, and analyzing WHI data.

The first 16 vanguard clinical centers in the country were named and began recruitment.

24 additional clinical centers are named, bringing the total to 40, with recruiting sites in 23 states.

161,808 postmenopausal women enrolled in the WHI. Over 68,000 women were randomized to 1, 2 , or 3 clinical trials: the Hormone Therapy (HT) Trial, the Diet Modification (DM) Trial, and the Calcium and Vitamin D (CaD) Trial. Over 93,000women enrolled in the Observation Study (OS).

The estrogen-plus-progestin arm of the HT trial was stopped. Early results showed women who took this combination hormone therapy had increased risk of coronary heart disease, stroke, pulmonary embolism, and breast cancer. Findings were published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).

Early results of the estrogen-only arm of the HT trial showed increased risk of stroke and no protection against heart disease. The trial was halted after an average of 6.8 years of follow-up. Findings were published in JAMA.

The DM Trial tested whether a low-fat diet reduced risk of breast and colorectal cancers, heart disease, and stroke in postmenopausal women. Results showed no risk reduction of these diseases. The CaD Trial tested whether taking calcium and Vitamin D reduced the risk of fractures and breast and colorectal cancers. Results showed a modest increase in hip bone density, but no risk reduction for breast and colorectal cancers.

All participants in the original WHI study were invited to enroll in the first extension study. 115,400 women enrolled and health updates and outcomes were collected annually from 2005-2010.

Health updates and outcomes were collected annually from 2010 to 2015 for the over 93,500 women who enrolled in the second WHI extension study.

From 2012 to 2013, over 7,800 women in the 2nd WHI Extension Study participated in the Long Life Study. They provided a blood sample, body measures, and performed physical function tests at an in-home visit.

An economic and health analysis of the effects of the WHI hormone therapy results indicated 76,000 fewer cardiovascular disease cases, 4.3 million fewer combination HT users, 126,000 fewer breast cancer cases, and a $35.2 billion savings in medical expenses in the decade following the release of the trial results.

The WHI encourages researchers to ask novel questions and develop new studies using WHI’s vast data repository and biorepository. Investigators have been proposing these ancillary studies since the beginning of the original WHI study. In 2014, 500 ancillary studies had been approved.

The Association for Clinical and Translational Science awarded the WHI study the Team Science Award for the collaborative nature of the investigators involved and the volume of high-quality scientific discoveries.

Additional funding allowed the Second Extension Study to continue until 2020. Health and medical outcomes continue to be collected annually from the women who enrolled.

The American Association for Cancer Research awarded the WHI study the Team Science Award, reinforcing that the WHI community of investigators are a collaborative group producing strong science.

The average age of women still active in WHI is 83 years and ranges from 71 to 103 years.

Outcomes continue to be collected annually from women who enrolled.

In 2023 Long Life Study 2 started. This is intended to repeat the Long Life Study 1 conducted a decade prior. Participants are asked to provide a blood sample, body measures, and physical function tests that are performed at an in-home visit.