The Effect of Menopause and HRT on Coronary Heart Disease

Abstract

Loss of ovarian function at the menopause results in adverse metabolic and vascular changes that increase the risk for coronary heart disease (CHD). Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) will reverse many of these changes, although this will be dependent on the type of hormones used, the dose of hormones at initiation of treatment, and in some cases the route of administration. Many observational studies have shown the association between postmenopausal HRT use and reduced incidence of CHD, and there is now increasing randomised clinical trial evidence to support this benefit. Given appropriately, HRT has the potential to be a major therapy for prevention of CHD in postmenopausal women.