"Women with type 2 diabetes should consider switching their HRT tablets to patches to reduce their risk of potentially fatal blood clots, according to a new study. Researchers have found women with the condition who take an oral form of HRT have double the risk of a pulmonary embolism - when a blood clot blocks an artery in the lung - than those using skin patches. They also have a 21 per cent increased risk of heart disease, the study revealed."
"HRT is regularly prescribed to women suffering from the effects of menopause to relieve symptoms such as hot flushes and night sweats. Treatments include tablets containing oestrogen only, or a combination of oestrogen and progesterone, as well as patches, gels and creams. Between 2023 and 2024, approximately 2.6 million women in the UK were taking some form of HRT. A team, led by researchers from the University of Liverpool, analysed data obtained from the electronic health records of more than 36,000 women on HRT who were followed for five years."
"They found a significantly higher risk of pulmonary embolism and heart disease for women with type 2 diabetes who took HRT in tablet form compared to those who used skin patches. Lead author Dr Matthew Anson said: 'Given increased risks with oral HRT, we propose that women with type 2 diabetes should not be prescribed oral oestrogen therapy.'"
Women with type 2 diabetes taking oral HRT face a doubled risk of pulmonary embolism compared with those using transdermal patches, and a 21% higher risk of heart disease. Oral oestrogen undergoes hepatic first-pass metabolism, which may disrupt the balance between clotting and anti-clotting proteins. Transdermal patches deliver lower doses and bypass the liver, potentially reducing thrombotic and cardiovascular risk. Electronic health records for more than 36,000 women on HRT were analysed over five years. Approximately 2.6 million women in the UK used some form of HRT between 2023 and 2024.
Read at Mail Online
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