Menopausal hormone therapy: Currently no evidence for cardiac protection

Abstract

Coronary heart disease is the leading cause of death among women of older age. Interest emerged as to whether premenopausal endogenous estrogen conferred cardiac protection and whether menopausal hormone therapy might prove beneficial. The results of pivotal clinical trials including the randomized, placebo-controlled hormone trial of the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) and the Heart and Estrogen/progestin Replacement Study (HERS) have led to new Guidelines from the American Heart Association (AHA) that state that hormone therapy should not be initiated or continued for the primary or secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease in menopausal women.