The latest report from the Women's Health Initiative suggests that combined hormone replacement therapy can increase the risk of stroke by 44 per cent.

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) has been linked to a number of health benefits, such as decreasing the risk of osteoporosis. But it may increase the risk of other problems as well, such as breast cancer and heart attacks. The latest report from the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) now suggests that combined HRT, which is estrogen and progestin, could increase stroke risk.

WHI covers over 16,000 women - some on HRT and some not - followed up for an average of 5.6 years. The study showed that those in the HRT group had a 44 per cent greater risk of having a ischemic stroke - that is, one caused by a blood clot - compared to those on placebo. There was no difference between the two groups in the risk of hemorrhagic stroke.

To put the risk into context, 151 patients on hormones had strokes, compared to 107 on placebo. Women in the WHI on hormones had already stopped their pills last July, when it was revealed that the risks of the medication seemed to outweigh the benefits. The current study merely underlines the risk where stroke is concerned.

Source

Journal of the American Medical Association 28th May 2003