CAD more common among women with oophorectomy, no HT use

Coronary heart disease may be related to oophorectomy and the absence of estrogen treatment in women with previous hysterectomy, according to results of a recent study.

Researchers with the Women’s Health Initiative Coronary Artery Calcium study evaluated the associations between coronary artery calcium, hysterectomy, oophorectomy and hormone therapy use in 1,064 women. They measured coronary artery calcium 1.3 years after the WHI was stopped (mean age at randomization, 55 years; mean age at measurement, 64.8 years).

The researchers reported a significant association between bilateral oophorectomy and previous hormone therapy use for the presence of any coronary artery calcium (P=.05). Subclinical coronary artery disease was more prevalent among women with oophorectomy who did not have a history of HT use. Multivariable analyses of women with no history of HT use revealed an OR of 2.0 for any coronary artery calcium among women with bilateral oophorectomy compared with an OR of 1.7 among women with unilateral or partial oophorectomy. Furthermore, women with bilateral oophorectomy who used HT within five years of surgery had a lower prevalence of coronary artery calcium.

There were no significant associations between bilateral oophorectomy, years since hysterectomy or bilateral oophorectomy with or without HT, years of HT use and presence of coronary artery calcium, according to the study.

Menopause. 2008;15:639-647.