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Last Updated: Jun 30, 2008 - 11:14:37 AM |
TUESDAY May 13, 2008 (foodconsumer.org) -- Postmenopausal women may not get an overall health benefit from hormone replacement therapy. Even worse, they may have to face an increased risk of cardiovascular events, according to a study published in the British medical Journal.
Hormone replacement therapy is prescribed to postmenopausal women who experience menopause-related symptoms and signs. Early studies such as the 2002 U.S. Women's Health Initiative have showed this treatment can not only increase risk of heart attack and stroke, but also risk of a number of cancers.
The current study known as WISDOM was discontinued after the Women's Health Initiative reported adverse effects of hormone replacement therapy. The current study essentially confirmed the findings of the U.S. study.
For the study, researchers followed 5,692 healthy women at the average age of 63 from Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom for approximately 12 months.
They found women who were treated with a combined hormone therapy of progesterone and estrogen had significantly more blood clots and major cardiovascular events (angina, heart attacks and sudden coronary death) than women who were treated with a placebo.
The hormone replacement therapy provided no overall benefit in disease prevention although the rates for cerebrovascular disease, cancer, fracture and overall death were the same in both groups, the study showed.
The women participating in the study were 15 years past menopause. Therefore, the researchers cautioned that the study could not tell how this therapy could affect younger women.
Hormone replacement therapy is recommended for postmenopausal women for relieving their menopausal symptoms. There is a common saying in the medical industry that long term use is risky, but short-term use is unlikely to pose significant health risks.
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