Association between hysterectomy with ovarian preservation and cardiovascular disease in a Norwegian population-based sample

Gynecol Obstet Invest. 2013;75(1):61-7. doi: 10.1159/000345072. Epub 2012 Dec 5.

Abstract

Background/aims: Some previous studies have reported that hysterectomy predicts increased prevalence of cardiovascular diseases, but the findings are disputed. We aimed to examine associations between hysterectomy and cardiovascular disease in a Norwegian cross-sectional health study.

Methods: The data were obtained from the population-based cross-sectional Nord-Trøndelag Health Study (The HUNT-2 Study). Of 46,709 invited females, 35,280 (76%) participated; 939 (3%) reported hysterectomy without oophorectomy (exposed women). Each exposed woman was age-matched with four randomly chosen women (n = 3,756) without hysterectomy or oophorectomy. Oophorectomy and hysterectomy status was self-reported by the women. Hazard ratio for cardiovascular diseases was calculated by Cox regression analyses with hysterectomy as a time-dependent covariate.

Results: Median time since hysterectomy was 14 years (range 0-56 years). We calculated a significantly larger cumulative probability of cardiovascular diseases after hysterectomy with a hazard ratio of 1.92, 95% CI (1.51-2.38) after adjustments for cardiovascular risk factors (diabetes, age, use of hormonal replacement therapy and positive family history of myocardial infarction).

Conclusion: Women had a significantly increased risk of cardiovascular diseases after hysterectomy compared to age-matched controls. Studies with longitudinal design and confirmed medical outcome data are needed.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Antihypertensive Agents / therapeutic use
  • Body Mass Index
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / epidemiology*
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Diabetes Mellitus / epidemiology
  • Female
  • Health Surveys
  • Hormone Replacement Therapy / statistics & numerical data
  • Humans
  • Hysterectomy / statistics & numerical data*
  • Middle Aged
  • Norway / epidemiology
  • Ovariectomy
  • Prevalence
  • Risk Factors
  • Surveys and Questionnaires

Substances

  • Antihypertensive Agents