Menopausal Hormone Therapy and Cardiovascular Risk in Midlife Women with Vasomotor Symptoms: Insights from the SWAN Study

Highlight

• Menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) initiated during perimenopause or within 10 years of menopause onset appears to reduce cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in women reporting vasomotor symptoms.
• The benefit of MHT on CVD risk is more pronounced in Black women compared to White women or women of other races.
• Data were derived from the longitudinal multiethnic Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation (SWAN) over two decades.
• Despite promising findings, cautious interpretation is necessary due to residual confounding and inconsistent cardiovascular benefits in broader populations; MHT should not be used solely for CVD prevention.

Study Background