University of Helsinki study shows hormone therapy lowers heart disease risk in women with history of pre-eclampsia

University of Helsinki study shows hormone therapy lowers heart disease risk in women with history of pre-eclampsia

(IN BRIEF) A doctoral study at the University of Helsinki shows that women with a history of pre-eclampsia face significantly higher risks of cardiovascular disease later in life, but hormone therapy used during menopause can help reduce this risk while easing menopausal symptoms. Pre-eclampsia affects about 5% of pregnancies and doubles as an under-recognised risk factor compared with smoking or hypertension. The research highlights the importance for both patients and healthcare providers to consider pregnancy-related hypertensive disorders when evaluating long-term heart health.

(PRESS RELEASE) HELSINKI, 21-Aug-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — University of Helsinki research has revealed that menopausal hormone therapy can help lower the risk of cardiovascular disease in women who experienced pre-eclampsia earlier in life. The findings come from the doctoral thesis of Minttu Venetkoski, MD, who studied the long-term link between hypertensive pregnancy disorders and heart health.

Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death among women worldwide. Venetkoski’s research confirms that women with a history of pre-eclampsia face a roughly 1.5-fold higher risk of ischaemic heart disease and stroke compared with those without the condition. However, her analysis showed that when these women used hormone therapy during menopause to relieve symptoms, it also reduced their elevated cardiovascular risk.

Pre-eclampsia, which affects about 5% of pregnancies, is not always considered by doctors in the same way as other well-known cardiovascular risk factors such as smoking, hypertension, or high cholesterol. Venetkoski stresses that this needs to change:
“Women entering menopause should inform their doctors about a history of pre-eclampsia. This is vital because the postmenopausal stage can make up nearly 40% of a woman’s lifetime, and risk factors should be assessed comprehensively.”

Her doctoral dissertation, titled “Menopausal hormone therapy and cardiovascular risk in women with a history of pre-eclampsia”, will be publicly examined at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, on 29 August 2025 at 12:00 at Naistenklinikka, Seth Wichmann -sali, Haartmaninkatu 2.

Media Contact:

MD Minttu Venetkoski
email: minttu.venetkoski@helsinki.fi
Tel: +358440775780

SOURCE: University of Helsinki