Epidemiology of cardiovascular disease in the menopause

The risk for cardiovascular disease in women increases with age. The relationship of cardiovascular disease to the menopause has been thought to result from loss of ovarian hormonal production. However, direct evidence for the role of endogenous estrogen in protection from atherosclerosis is lacking. indirect evidence of hormonal impact on heart disease must control for the effect of aging as well as other risk factors. Menopause signals gradual hormonal changes in addition to alterations in other cardiac risk factors, all of which contribute to the onset of coronary heart disease in elderly women.