HRT patches prove safer than pills for stroke risk
11 June 2010
The risk of stroke is reduced with the use of low-dose HRT skin patches compared to tablets in women who have been through menopause, research shows (BMJ, online first).
However, there is a slightly elevated risk for higher dose patches.
A review of 70,000 medical records of UK women aged 50-79 years is the first to look at the difference in route of HRT administration in relation to stroke risk.
Researchers evaluated more than 15,000 cases of stroke against HRT use, comparing patches with oral oestrogen products (tablets), and high versus low doses.
They found that use of oral oestrogen, either alone or combined with a progestogen, conferred a 28 per cent increased risk of stroke. The risk of stroke was also increased with high-dose patches, but there was no increase in the risk of stroke with the use of low-dose oestrogen patches.
Melbourne endocrinologist Professor Henry Burger, a consultant to the Jean Hailes Foundation for Women’s Health, said the findings supported the desirability of using patches rather than oral oestrogen, in particular for women perceived to be at increased risk of heart disease or stroke.
Last Reviewed: 11 June 2010
- 1. Renoux C, Dell'Aniello S, Garbe E, Suissa S. Transdermal and oral hormone replacement therapy and the risk of stroke: a nested case-control study. BMJ 2010; 340: c2519. Available at: http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/short/340/jun03_4/c2519?rss=1&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+bmj%2Frecent+(Latest+from+BMJ)&q=w_bmj
