What question did this study set out to answer?

This research investigates the impact of estrogen plus progestin therapy on stroke risk in postmenopausal women.

February 6, 2001Circulation404 citations

Postmenopausal Hormone Therapy and Risk of Stroke

JSJoel A. Simon JHJudith Hsia JCJane A. Cauley

Key Points

This research investigates the impact of estrogen plus progestin therapy on stroke risk in postmenopausal women.
Randomized trial involving 2763 postmenopausal women assigned to hormone therapy or placebo.
Mean follow-up duration was 4.1 years to analyze stroke incidence and death.
Comparison made between women with strokes and those without to determine therapy effects.
149 women (5%) experienced strokes, predominantly ischemic, leading to 26 deaths.
Hormone therapy showed no significant association with risk of nonfatal stroke (RH 1.18; 95% CI 0.83 to 1.66) or fatal stroke (RH 1.61; 95% CI 0.73 to 3.55).
Factors increasing stroke risk included age, hypertension, diabetes, smoking, and atrial fibrillation.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Observational studies have shown that postmenopausal hormone therapy may increase, decrease, or have no effect on the risk of stroke. To date, no clinical trial has examined this question. To investigate the relation between estrogen plus progestin therapy and risk of stroke among postmenopausal women, we analyzed data collected from the Heart 95% CI 0.83 to 1.66), fatal stroke (RH 1.61; 95% CI 0.73 to 3.55), or transient ischemic attack (RH 0.90; 95% CI 0.57 to 1.42). Independent predictors of stroke events included increasing age, hypertension, diabetes, current cigarette smoking, and atrial fibrillation. Black women were at increased risk compared with white women, and unexpectedly, body mass index was inversely associated with stroke risk. CONCLUSIONS: Hormone therapy with conjugated equine estrogen and progestin had no significant effect on the risk for stroke among postmenopausal women with coronary disease.

Ask AI

Helpful

Bookmark

View Full Paper