We found high quality evidence that hormone therapy in both primary and secondary prevention conferred no protective effects for all-cause mortality , cardiovascular death , non-fatal myocardial infa rct ion , angina , or revascularisation .
There was no strong evidence of effect on risk of stroke in this group .
Our review findings provide strong evidence that treatment with hormone therapy in post-menopausal women overall , for either primary or secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease events has little if any benefit and causes an increase in the risk of stroke and venous thromboembolic events
BACKGROUND Evidence from systematic review s of observational studies suggests that hormone therapy may have beneficial effects in reducing the incidence of cardiovascular disease events in post-menopausal women , however the results of r and omised controlled trials ( RCTs ) have had mixed results .
This is an up date d version of a Cochrane review published in 2013 .
OBJECTIVES To assess the effects of hormone therapy for the prevention of cardiovascular disease in post-menopausal women , and whether there are differential effects between use in primary or secondary prevention .
Secondary aims were to undertake exploratory analyses to ( i ) assess the impact of time since menopause that treatment was commenced ( ≥ 10 years versus < 10 years ) , and where these data were not available , use age of trial participants at baseline as a proxy ( ≥ 60 years of age versus < 60 years of age ) ; and ( ii ) assess the effects of length of time on treatment .
1 and 2 mg 17β-estradiol combined with sequential dydrogesterone have similar effects on the serum lipid profile of postmenopausal women
Objectives The aim of this study was to assess the effects of 1 and 2 mg 17β-estradiol on serum lipid profile . Beneficial effects have been clearly established in previous studies with a 2 mg dose ; further evidence was required to confirm the beneficial effects of a 1 mg dose . Methods This double-blind , placebo-controlled study involved 579 postmenopausal women r and omized to oral treatment with placebo , 1 mg/day 17β-estradiol sequentially combined with 5 or 10 mg/day dydrogesterone for the last 14 days of each 28-day cycle , or 2 mg/day 17β-estradiol sequentially combined with 10 or 20 mg/day dydrogesterone for the last 14 days of each 28-day cycle .  Treatment was continued for 26 cycles . Results High density lipoprotein ( HDL ) cholesterol levels were significantly ( p<0.05 ) increased after 26 cycles in all active treatment groups compared with placebo . In addition , low density lipoprotein ( LDL ) cholesterol and lipoprotein(a ) levels were significantly reduced , and apolipoprotein A1 and triglyceride levels were significantly increased , in all active treatment groups after 13 and 26 cycles . Conclusions The results of this study clearly indicate that sequential combinations of either 1 or 2 mg 17β-estradiol with dydrogesterone are associated with long-term , favorable changes in the serum lipid profile . There was no evidence that dydrogesterone compromised the 17β-estradiol-induced improvements in lipid profile
We found high quality evidence that hormone therapy in both primary and secondary prevention conferred no protective effects for all-cause mortality , cardiovascular death , non-fatal myocardial infa rct ion , angina , or revascularisation .
There was no strong evidence of effect on risk of stroke in this group .
Our review findings provide strong evidence that treatment with hormone therapy in post-menopausal women overall , for either primary or secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease events has little if any benefit and causes an increase in the risk of stroke and venous thromboembolic events
BACKGROUND Evidence from systematic review s of observational studies suggests that hormone therapy may have beneficial effects in reducing the incidence of cardiovascular disease events in post-menopausal women , however the results of r and omised controlled trials ( RCTs ) have had mixed results .
This is an up date d version of a Cochrane review published in 2013 .
OBJECTIVES To assess the effects of hormone therapy for the prevention of cardiovascular disease in post-menopausal women , and whether there are differential effects between use in primary or secondary prevention .
Secondary aims were to undertake exploratory analyses to ( i ) assess the impact of time since menopause that treatment was commenced ( ≥ 10 years versus < 10 years ) , and where these data were not available , use age of trial participants at baseline as a proxy ( ≥ 60 years of age versus < 60 years of age ) ; and ( ii ) assess the effects of length of time on treatment .