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Menopause is thought to exacerbate risk for cardiovascular (CV) disease; however, in randomized trials involving older women, hormone therapy did not lead to worse CV outcomes. Some have criticized these findings because women who take HT to treat menopausal symptoms are unlikely to participate in studies that require discontinuing it. In a prospective cohort study, Dutch researchers assessed cardiac risk factor status in 5523 women (age range, 46–57) with menopausal symptoms; most (77%) had never used HT. Participants were asked about the frequency (during the previous week) and severity of hot flashes and night sweats; total cholesterol levels, blood pressure, and BMI were also measured.
Half the women reported having experienced no hot fl…