Hormone Therapy May Lower Risk for Artery Disease

Not all data on hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is negative: A new study says that HRT may help prevent peripheral artery disease (PAD).

Researchers at New York University in New York City found that HRT provided protection against PAD even in women who had other risk factors for the vascular disease, such as high cholesterol or high blood pressure.

"We found that patients who had used HRT were about 20 percent less likely to have PAD," says study author Caron Rockman, M.D., at NYU's Langone Medical Center.

Half had used HRT

The researchers evaluated about 848,000 women; about half had used HRT. Women who used HRT were more likely to be white, to have smoked cigarettes, and to have high blood pressure and high cholesterol. In addition, those on HRT were slightly older (about 64.7 years old, on average) than those who were not on HRT (about 64.3 years old).

The investigators also found that those who took HRT were also less likely to have PAD, even with their increased risk factors. Although 3.3 percent of those on HRT had PAD, 4.1 percent of those not on HRT had it.

PAD usually affects arteries in the legs and pelvis. Having PAD increases the risk for heart attack and stroke.

HRT risks

Although women take HRT to relieve the symptoms of menopause - hot flashes and vaginal dryness - certain forms of this therapy can raise the risk for breast cancer. Because of this risk, HRT is usually recommended only for short-term use.

Dr. Rockman says that although researchers don't yet know exactly how HRT helps cut the risk for PAD, it may be that the hormone therapy dilates the peripheral blood vessels.

The study also has limitations, Dr. Rockman says. "We don't know what type of HRT these patients took and for how long," she says. The study participants also chose to participate and undergo screening, so this self-referred group could have affected the findings.

Always talk with your health care provider to find out more information.