Untangling the Relations Between Hormone Therapy and Coronary Heart Disease

Analysis showed no evidence of excess CHD risk during the first 2 years of combined hormone therapy initiated within 10 years of menopause; cardioprotection might develop after 6 years.

Risk for coronary heart disease (CHD) that is associated with use of hormone therapy (HT) might depend on time elapsed since initiation of use and could be limited to women who begin HT long after menopause (JW Womens Health Jul 31 2008). In an analysis of data from 16,608 postmenopausal women who participated in the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) randomized trial of conjugated equine estrogens plus medroxyprogesterone acetate (E+P) versus placebo, investigators sought to estimate the effect of continuous E+P HT on CHD risk over time in relation to the number of years since menopause. The researchers calculated adherence-adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) and CHD-free survival curves. Adherence-adjusted HRs also were calculated from Nurses' Heal…

Reviewing Authors

JoAnne M. Foody, MD

Disclosures

Consultant / Advisory boardAegerion; Amarin; Bristol-Myers Squibb; Janssen; Merck; Pfizer; Sanofi-Aventis; Boehringer Ingelheim

Leadership positions in professional societiesAmerican College of Cardiology, Cardiosmart (Co-chair)

JoAnne M. Foody, MD

Disclosures

Consultant / Advisory boardAegerion; Amarin; Bristol-Myers Squibb; Janssen; Merck; Pfizer; Sanofi-Aventis; Boehringer Ingelheim

Leadership positions in professional societiesAmerican College of Cardiology, Cardiosmart (Co-chair)

Andrew M. Kaunitz, MD

Disclosures

RoyaltiesUpToDate

Grant/Research SupportMerck, Mithra, Medicines360

Editorial BoardsContraception; Menopause; Contraceptive Technology Update; OBG Management; Medscape OB/GYN & Women’s Health

Andrew M. Kaunitz, MD

Disclosures

RoyaltiesUpToDate

Grant/Research SupportMerck, Mithra, Medicines360

Editorial BoardsContraception; Menopause; Contraceptive Technology Update; OBG Management; Medscape OB/GYN & Women’s Health

Untangling the Relations Between Hormone Therapy and Coronary Heart Disease

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Reviewing Authors