And the beat goes on

Posted by Liz on Apr 24, 2009 in heart disease, HRT | 0 comments

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4kn3oIbBJac&feature=related]

More interesting news on the HRT front. Study findings reported in the May issue of the journal Medical Care suggest that a decline in the use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) may be associated with a decrease in heart attacks among women.

In this trial, researchers examined data from various national databases  on causes of death,  hospitalizations  and population size and combined it with information on HRT use.

Although declines in HRT use were not associated with decreases in stroke deaths or hospitalizations, the data did demonstrate 25 fewer heart attacks for every 10,000 women not using HRT.  In contrast, findings from the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) study found an increase of seven heart attacks  for every 10,000 women on HRT. (Note, however, that a more recent analysis of the 2002 WHI data showed that heart attack risk from hormones may not be increased in women who start the hormones less than 10 years after menopause, but  is increased in women more than 10 years out.)

In the press release distributed along with the study, a cardiologist from Total Heart Care is NYC is quoted as saying that lower heart attacks rates may be associated with better screening and greater awareness of heart disease in women, and attributable to declining HRT use.  Study researchers say that more research is needed to verify their findings.

So far as I am concerned, it’s a win-win. Screening or less HRT. And the beat goes on…