Hysterectomy Linked to CVD, Metabolic Risks in Younger Women

Hysterectomy is associated with a higher risk for cardiovascular and metabolic conditions, especially in women age 35 years or younger, according to a recent study.

For their study, the researchers assessed 2094 women from Olmsted County, Minnesota, who had undergone hysterectomy with ovarian conservation for benign indications between 1980 and 2002. Follow-up lasted a median of 21.9 years. Patients were identified via the Rochester Epidemiology Project records linkage system.

Women were age matched to referent women from the same county who had not undergone prior hysterectomy or any oophorectomy. Both groups were followed for de novo cardiovascular or metabolic diagnoses.

Findings revealed that hysterectomy recipients had increased risks of de novo hyperlipidemia (hazard ratio [HR] 1.14), hypertension (HR 1.13), obesity (HR 1.18), cardiac arrhythmias (HR 1.17), and coronary artery disease (HR 1.33). Furthermore, women who underwent hysterectomy at age 35 years or younger had a 4.6-times higher risk of congestive heart failure and a 2.5-times higher risk of coronary artery disease.

“Even with ovarian conservation, hysterectomy is associated with an increased long-term risk of cardiovascular and metabolic conditions, especially in women who undergo hysterectomy at age [35 years or younger],” the researchers concluded. “If these associations are causal, alternatives to hysterectomy should be considered to treat benign gynecologic conditions.”

—Christina Vogt

Reference:

Laughlin-Tommaso SK, Khan Z, Weaver AL, Smith CY, Rocca WA, Stewart EA. Cardiovascular and metabolic morbidity after hysterectomy with ovarian conservation: a cohort study [Published online December 28, 2017]. Menopause. doi:10.1097/GME.0000000000001043.