[Menopause, hormone therapy and cardiovascular risk].

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Women's Health
• Endocrinology

Background:

• Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a leading cause of death in French women.
• Menopause presents a critical window for cardiovascular risk assessment.
• Disabling climacteric syndrome often necessitates treatment considerations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the importance of cardiovascular risk screening during menopause.
• To evaluate the safety and efficacy of menopausal hormone therapy (MHT).
• To recommend optimal MHT for women with climacteric syndrome.

Main Methods:

• Review of current clinical guidelines and literature on CVD risk factors in menopausal women.
• Analysis of the safety profile of different MHT formulations.
• Emphasis on the necessity of annual follow-up for MHT management.

Main Results:

• Menopause is identified as the optimal period for comprehensive cardiovascular risk factor screening.
• Transdermal estradiol combined with natural progesterone is presented as the safest MHT option for women without a history of hysterectomy.
• Annual assessment of treatment tolerability and cardiovascular risk factors is crucial.

Conclusions:

• Systematic cardiovascular risk screening during menopause is essential.
• Specific MHT formulations (transdermal estradiol/natural progesterone) offer a favorable benefit/risk profile for select women.
• Ongoing monitoring is vital for optimizing MHT safety and effectiveness.