When a woman goes through menopause, she is at accelerated risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD), according to the 2020 statement on menopause and CVD risk from the American Heart Association (AHA).
CVD remains the number 1 cause of death among women. The AHA published the first scientific statement in 2020 to discuss the contemporary literature on menopause and CVD risk to raise public awareness of the challenges women face.1 Samar R. El Khoudary, PhD, MPH, BPharm, FAHA, outlined the statement’s key takeaways Wednesday at the North American Menopause Society’s (NAMS) 2021 Annual Meeting.2
Her presentation underlined the significance of the menopause transition as a time of accelerated CVD risk, making it a crucial time for providers to monitor their patients.
The AHA’s statement referred to its definition of optimal cardiovascular health, its Life’s Simple 7 indicators: body mass index (BMI), physical activity, smoking, diet, cholesterol, blood pressure, and fasting glucose.
Menopausal women experience critical changes in body fat distribution, lipids and lipoproteins, and vascular health measures, making Life’s Simple 7 an adequate measure to identify CVD risk.
Khoudary noted that menopausal women experience deterioration in multiple metrics of the AHA’s Life’s Simple 7, putting them at greater risk for CVD later in life. For example, they may experience abnormal cholesterol levels, obesity, insulin resistance, and high blood pressure.
“The current guidelines for CVD management do not recommend hormone therapy, but focus on healthy lifestyle,” she said.
A marker for greater CVD risk, the statement noted, was earlier age at natural menopause. It also noted that the timing of hormone therapy is critical. Initiation at age 60 or under, or within 10 years of menopause, resulted in lower CVD risk.
“More randomized clinical trials of women transitioning through menopause are needed,” Khoudary concluded.
The statement also called for further research into menopause hormone therapy use, including potential contrasts by form, route, and duration of administration, and cardio-metabolic effects.
References
Shared genetics found between anti-Müllerian hormone and age at menopause
December 4th 2024In a recent study, an inverse relationship was discovered between anti-Müllerian hormone levels and early menopause, highlighting the need to develop interventions for fertility preservation based on genetics.
Read More
S3E20: Brooke Faught, NP on sexual health, trauma-informed care, and the perks of meeting in-person
December 3rd 2021In this episode of Pap Talk, we took you with us to the North American Menopause Society's recent Annual Meeting. Sexual health specialist Michael Krychman, MD, sat down with Brooke Faught, NP, to learn more about her work at the Women's Institute for Sexual Health, her role on the NAMS Planning Committee, and her tips for talking trauma with patients.
Listen