Association of menopausal hormone therapy with risk of cardiovascular disease in Korean women

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the association between various regimens and combinations of menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) and the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in clinical practice.

Design: This was a population-based cohort study.

Methods: This population-based cohort study used data from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service. The data of women who reported entering menopause at ≥40 years of age with no history of CVD in the national health examination between 2011 and 2014 were extracted. A total of 134 298 pairs were included in the MHT and non-MHT groups after 1:1 propensity score matching. The participants were followed until December, 31, 2020.

Results: During a median follow-up of 7.9 (IQR 6.9-8.9) years, the incidences of CVD were 146 per 100 000 person/year and 179 per 100 000 person/year for the non-MHT and MHT groups, respectively. After adjusting for covariates, MHT use was associated with an increased CVD risk (hazard ratio [HR], 1.22 [1.14-1.31]) compared with the non-MHT group; the risk was based on an increased risk of stroke and coronary artery revascularization. Tibolone (HR, 1.38, [1.27-1.50]) was associated with increased CVD, but estrogen alone or combined estrogen/progestogen was not. There was no difference in CVD risk, regardless of the type of estrogen agent used. For combined estrogen/progestogen therapy, dydrogesterone was associated with reduced CVD risk.

Conclusions: There was an increased risk of CVD in MHT users. By regimen, tibolone use was associated with increased risk of CVD, whereas estrogen either alone or in combination with progestogen was not. There was no difference according to the type of estrogen. The type of progestogen seems to modify the results, since dydrogesterone was associated with reduced CVD risk.

Keywords: cardiovascular disease; cohort study; menopausal hormone therapy; menopause.