The Association Between Route of Post-menopausal Estrogen Administration and Blood Pressure and Arterial Stiffness in Community-Dwelling Women

Background: Postmenopausal hormone therapy (HT) is associated with increased cardiovascular risk. Although the route of estrogen administration may play a role in mediating risk, previous studies have not controlled for concomitant progestin use. Objective: To investigate the association between the route of estrogen therapy (oral or non-oral) HT use, without concomitant progestin, and blood pressure and arterial stiffness in postmenopausal women. Methods: Systolic blood pressure [SBP], diastolic blood pressure [DBP]), arterial stiffness (aortic pulse wave velocity [aPWV] and augmentation index at 75 beats per minute [AIx]) were measured using a validated automated brachial cuff-based oscillometric approach (Mobil-O-Graph) in a community-dwelling sample of 328 women. Results: = 0.74 vs. control). Conclusion: Ever use of oral estrogen was associated with increased SBP and DBP compared to non-oral estrogen use and no use. Given the cardiovascular risk associated with both menopause and increased blood pressure, further studies are required exploring the potential benefits of non-oral estrogen in postmenopausal women.