Professor Rodney Baber1
1Clinical Professor, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The University of Sydney
Biography:
Rod Baber is Clinical Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at The University of Sydney.
He is a Past President of The International Menopause Society and The Australasian Menopause Society and former Editor in Chief of Climacteric, the journal of The International Menopause Society. His awards include membership of The Order of Australia for services to Obstetrics and Gynaecology in clinical medicine and research, The IMS Lifetime Achievement Award and The RANZCOG Distinguished Service medal.
Abstract:
Every hour a woman in Australia dies of heart disease and the risk of heart disease increases after menopause relative to premenopausal life after correcting for age. Estrogen has several important roles which are beneficial to cardiovascular health including non-genomic and genomic effects which influence vascular function, direct actions on lipid metabolism, satiety and metabolic health which explain the effects of estrogen loss during menopause transition. Longitudinal studies have demonstrated adverse changes in body fat, lipids, metabolic syndrome and CIMT which all occur during perimenopause. Most observational studies on the effects of MHT on CVD risk have suggested beneficial effects of that intervention on CHD and MI although the same benefits were not seen in major RCTs. Current guidance does not support the use of MHT for primary or secondary prevention of CHD. Most women with an increased risk of CHD are still eligible to use MHT to alleviate bothersome menopausal symptoms but only after careful CVD risk assessment. Details will be discussed.