Vascular risk at menopause: The importance of a cardio-gynecological program.
Maturitas 2026 May 27; 211:109000. [Online ahead of print]

Abstract

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of mortality among postmenopausal women in the European region. While women share traditional cardiovascular risk factors with men, the prevalence and impact on the cardiovascular system of these factors differ by gender. Moreover, women-specific risk factors have recently been identified, including premature or early-onset menopause, migraine, polycystic ovary syndrome, infertility, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, gestational diabetes and endometriosis. This review details the example of three French gynecological-cardiological care pathways addressing these issues. The first example, based at Cochin-Hôtel-Dieu Hospital in Paris, is a gynecological and cardiological pathway focusing on women with premature ovarian failure, perimenopause, or menopause. The results reveal that over half of women assessed had either at least one new diagnosis of a major risk factor (hypertension, diabetes or dyslipidemia), or adjustments of their treatment. The second example is Menopause Center in Toulouse, assessing women aged 45 to 60. The assessment found that 35% had a single risk factor and another 35% had two or more traditional cardiovascular risk factors. The third example is the Women's Cardiovascular Healthcare Foundation, a mobile unit that visits 20 cities across France to carry out cardiac and gynecological screening, specifically targeting those in precarious situations. The results show that 90.2% of women had more than two cardiovascular risk factors. All these findings highlight the urgent need to address women's cardiovascular health. Collaboration between gynecologists and cardiologists could be strengthened to become a highly effective strategy for improving the cardiovascular health of women.

Authors+Show Affiliations

Cavadias IGynecological Unit Cochin-Port-Royal Hospital University Paris Cité, Paris, France; Faculty of medicine, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France.
Kretz SGynecological Unit Cochin-Port-Royal Hospital University Paris Cité, Paris, France; Hypertension and cardiovascular prevention Unit Hotel-Dieu Hospital, Paris, France.
Kedziora CGynecological Unit Cochin-Port-Royal Hospital University Paris Cité, Paris, France.
Mounier-Vehier CUniv. Lille, CHU Lille, URL 2694-Metrics Evaluation of health technologies and medical practices, F-59000, Lille, France; Women's Cardiovascular Health care Foundation 22 rue de Londres, 75009, Paris, France.
Trémollières FMenopause Unit, Paule de Viguier Hospital, Toulouse, France; I2MC Inserm U1297, ESTER team, Toulouse III University, France.
Plu-Bureau GGynecological Unit Cochin-Port-Royal Hospital University Paris Cité, Paris, France; Faculty of medicine, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France; Women's Cardiovascular Health care Foundation 22 rue de Londres, 75009, Paris, France; Inserm 1153 Team OPPaLE Port-Royal Hospital Paris, France. Electronic address: genevieve.plu-bureau@aphp.fr.

Pub Type(s)

Journal Article
Review

Language

eng

PubMed ID

42224845