New Analysis of Data from WHI Provides Reassurance With Respect to Coronary Heart Disease For Newly Menopausal Women Considering Hormone Therapy

The publication also reports a statistically nonsignificant trend toward a reduction in coronary heart disease among hormone therapy users within 10 years of menopause. Study authors also reported a statistically significant reduction in total mortality among women aged 50-59 in the group receiving hormone therapy compared with those in the placebo group with a nonsignificant trend for increasing risk across other age groups. Additionally, consistent with previous findings, an increase in the risk of stroke for women taking hormone therapy was confirmed in this pooled analysis.

"These pooled findings with respect to coronary heart disease may be reassuring to newly menopausal women," says Joseph Camardo, M.D., Senior Vice President of Global Medical Affairs for Wyeth Pharmaceuticals. "Hormone therapy remains a good health care choice for the appropriate woman seeking the relief of moderate to severe menopausal symptoms, including hot flashes, night sweats and vaginal atrophy and the prevention of postmenopausal osteoporosis. Hormone therapy should not be used for the prevention of cardiovascular disease.

"Furthermore, the overall findings of this pooled analysis of the WHI are consistent with major observational studies, such as the Nurses' Health Study," adds Dr. Camardo. "The overall risk/benefit ratio with hormone therapy may depend on many factors, including the type of therapy a woman chooses, such as estrogen or estrogen plus progestin, as well as a woman's age or years since menopause when therapy was initiated."

The findings reported in this publication are based on prespecified analyses of data from the WHI, a large-scale study sponsored by the National Institutes of Health that was designed to evaluate hormone therapy, dietary modification, calcium and vitamin D as preventive therapies for menopausal women. The hormone therapy arms were designed to assess select long-term risks and benefits of hormone therapy. The WHI studied conjugated estrogens (0.625 mg) (PREMARIN(R) [conjugated estrogens tablets, USP]) and oral conjugated estrogens (0.625 mg) combined with medroxyprogesterone acetate (2.5 mg) (PREMPRO(R) [conjugated estrogens/medroxyprogesterone acetate tablets]). PREMARIN and PREMPRO are the most widely prescribed hormone therapy products in the United States and offer significant clinical experience and the largest safety database available among hormone therapy products, providing extensive information to assist health care professionals in making appropriate treatment recommendations.

The absolute risk for cardiovascular disease associated with hormone therapy use depends on the background rate, which increases with various risk factors, including age, personal health history and family history, among others. For most early menopausal women, the absolute risk of cardiovascular disease is low. Current hormone therapy labeling includes a warning about the risks of cardiovascular disease, and advises against using hormone therapy for the prevention of cardiovascular disease.