AACE Analysis Shows No Excess Cardiovascular Risk from Hormone Replacement Therapy for Most Patients

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AACE Analysis Shows No Excess Cardiovascular Risk from

Hormone Replacement Therapy for Most Patients

JACKSONVILLE,

FL, January 2, 2008 – An American Association of Clinical

Endocrinologists (AACE) analysis of several studies monitoring the impact of

Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) shows young women in early menopause may not

only have no increased cardiovascular risk from the therapy, but may indeed

show benefit in the future.

HRT has powerful effects in relieving menopausal symptoms.

AACE conducted the analysis in response to several major studies that brought

to light conflicting information about the safety of HRT. Those studies

include the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI), The Heart and

estrogen/progestin Replacement Study (HERS), and the Postmenopausal

Estrogen/Progestin Interventions study (PEPI).

The AACE analysis included a meta-analysis of 23 trials that

compared results in women younger than 60, or less than 10 years since

menopause. When re-evaluating to permit an analysis of cardiovascular disease

based on age, the studies showed that after a three year period, there was no

difference in the incidence of cardiovascular disease between the HRT group and

the placebo group.

“This is an important and meaningful analysis for women who

can benefit from Hormone Replacement Therapy,” said Hellman, MD,

FACP, FACE, and President of the American Association of Clinical

Endocrinologists. “Since the WHI was published in 2002, there has

been much debate over the risk/reward ratio with this treatment option.

Patient safety must always be our primary objective. We can now say with

good confidence that this therapy is very safe for women under 60, or who have

recently experienced menopause”

AACE still recommends that each patient be evaluated by her doctor

for the severity of her symptoms, age, and specific risk factors that might

impact the efficacy of hormone replacement therapy. Non-hormonal

therapies should be offered to those women who decline hormonal therapy.

A complete copy of AACE’s position statement on Hormone

Replacement Therapy and Cardiovascular Risk may be found at http://www.aace.com/pub/pdf/guidelines/HRTCVRISKposition_statement.pdf.

About

AACE

AACE is a professional medical

organization with nearly 6,000 members in the United States and 85 other

countries. Founded in 1991, AACE is dedicated to the optimal care of

patients with endocrine problems. AACE Clinical Endocrinologists advanced,

specialized training enable them to be experts in the care of endocrine

disease, such as diabetes, thyroid disorders, growth hormone deficiency,

osteoporosis, cholesterol disorders, hypertension and obesity. For further

information about AACE visit www.aace.com.