AGE is a factor in determining the heart risks linked to hormone therapy for menopausal hot flashes and night sweats, according to a reanalysis of two major clinical trials.
In a paper published today in JAMA Internal Medicine, researchers looked at data from the Women's Health Initiative trials, which were conducted in the US from 1993 to 2012 and included over 27,000 women.
The trials were famously stopped early due to concerns over increased risk of cardiovascular event and breast cancer, which resulted in reduced use of hormone therapy among women around the world.
In the current reanalysis of the data by age group, they found no extra heart disease risks from hormone therapy to treat menopausal hot flashes and night sweats in women aged 50-59.
However, there was a two-to-three times increased risk of heart disease for women aged 70 years or older.
"Hormone therapy is the most effective treatment for menopausal vasomotor symptoms, but many women and clinicians are hesitant to use it due to concerns about adverse cardiovascular outcomes," said the authors.
"The findings support guideline recommendations for treatment of vasomotor symptoms with hormone therapy in women aged 50 to 59 years, caution if initiating hormone therapy in women aged 60 to 69 years, and avoidance of hormone therapy in women 70 years and older," they concluded.
Read the paper HERE.
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