Clearing Up HRT Confusion

By Sally Finder-Koziol

For women in their 50s, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) may do more than just take the sizzle out of menopause. It also can diminish heart-attack risk. According to a new study, HRT can reduce heart attacks by about one-third in women younger than 60.

Older women, however, experienced mixed results. The study found that HRT increased the risk of heart attacks during the first year of treatment in women older than 60, but after two years of treatment, HRT began to reduce heart attacks compared with women taking a placebo.

The conclusions were drawn by scientists who analyzed numerous HRT studies. These various reports on the risks and benefits of hormone therapy have generated fears about increased heart attack risk—along with confusion for women. However, study author Edwin Salpeter of Cornell University says, this latest research may help clear things up. Previous studies have analyzed heart-attack risk for postmenopausal women as a whole rather than by age group. And younger women may respond differently to HRT than older women do, Salpeter says.

No matter what their age, postmenopausal women should consult a doctor before deciding whether HRT is right for them, Salpeter adds. Still other studies suggest that HRT increases the risk of breast cancer but reduces the risk of colorectal cancer.

Source: Cornell University