Study Shows Endometriosis Linked to 35% Higher Heart Attack Risk in Women
New Delhi: A study released on Thursday revealed that women with endometriosis, a chronic gynaecological condition, have a 35% higher risk of experiencing a severe heart attack.
Endometriosis occurs when tissue similar to the uterine lining grows outside the uterus, affecting areas like the ovaries and fallopian tubes. It is most common in women aged 30 to 40 and can lead to intense pelvic pain and irregular or heavy menstrual bleeding.
Currently, there is no cure or prevention for endometriosis, though its symptoms can be managed with medication.
While men have long been considered at higher risk for heart disease, the Danish study found that women with endometriosis face a 35% greater risk of acute myocardial infarction (heart attack). Additionally, they have a 20% higher likelihood of ischaemic stroke compared to women without endometriosis.
The study further indicated that the 40-year cumulative incidence of these cardiovascular conditions was 17.5% and 15.3%, respectively.
“For decades, cardiovascular disease (CVD) has been thought of as a man’s disease and risk factors have been considered from the male perspective, for example, including erectile dysfunction in guidelines on CVD risk assessment. Yet, one in three women die from CVD and one in 10 women suffer from endometriosis,” said lead author Dr. Eva Havers-Borgersen from Rigshospitalet Copenhagen University Hospital, in Denmark.
“Our results suggest that it may be time to routinely consider the risk of CVD in women with endometriosis,” she added.
The study utilized Danish registries, which included data on women diagnosed with endometriosis between 1977 and 2021.
The analysis involved 242,032 matched controls and 60,508 women with endometriosis, with controls followed for up to 45 years and a median follow-up period of 16 years.
The findings also indicated that women with endometriosis are more likely to face an increased risk of arrhythmias and heart failure. The study suggests that cardiovascular risk assessments for women with endometriosis should consider female-specific risk factors in prediction models.
This research is set to be presented at the ongoing European Cardiology Congress in London (August 30-September 2).