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Hormone Combo and Heart Risks

(February 18, 2010) - Another study has concluded that combination hormone therapy increases the risk of heart disease in healthy postmenopausal women. (Read about "Coronary Heart Disease" "Heart Disease & Women" "Menopause") Researchers report a trend toward an increased risk of heart disease during the first two years of hormone therapy among women who began therapy within 10 years of menopause, and a more marked elevation of risk among women who began hormone therapy more than 10 years after menopause. Analyses indicate that overall a woman's risk of heart disease more than doubles within the first two years of taking combination HT.

The difference in the initial level of risk does not appear related to age, based on findings that the increased risk of heart disease was similar between women in their 50s on combination hormone therapy and women in their 60s.

"Today, most women who take hormone therapy for menopausal symptoms begin therapy shortly after menopause. Based on this report, even these women appear to be at increased risk of heart disease for several years after starting combination hormone therapy," noted Susan B. Shurin, M.D., National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) acting director. "It is clearer than ever that women who are considering postmenopausal hormone therapy for menopausal symptoms should discuss their risk of heart disease and other risks - such as breast cancer, stroke, and dangerous blood clots - with their doctors before starting therapy." (Read about "Breast Cancer" "Stroke")

Combination hormone therapy includes progestin in combination with estrogen. Adding progestin is known to prevent endometrial cancer (Read about "Uterine Cancer") in women with a uterus. These findings do not apply to women who have had a hysterectomy (Read about "Hysterectomy") and take estrogen-only hormone therapy.

The study involved over 16,000 women. Half were taking the combination hormone therapy, the other half a placebo. The analysis showed that women on combination hormone therapy were about 2.4 times more likely to develop heart disease in the first two years. At eight years, the women on combination hormone therapy were 69 percent more likely to develop heart disease.