Women on hormone replacement therapy are living longer as menopause treatment cuts death risk by 30%

WOMEN on hormone replacement therapy tend to live longer, a study says.

Taking the menopause relief treatment has “survival benefits” and cuts the overall risk of death by 30 per cent, experts claim.

One reason is that HRT helps stop arteries becoming clogged with plaque which can trigger fatal heart attacks and strokes, the scientists found.

The aim of HRT is to replace oestrogen and progesterone the body stops producing at menopause.

Some experts believe oestrogen helps the heart by cutting cholesterol and aiding blood flow by making vessels more flexible. But controversially, other research links it to cancer and deep vein thrombosis.

In the most recent study on plaque build-up, researchers analysed the health records of more than 4,200 women.

Each had been given a CT scan to measure ­atherosclerosis — the amount of calcium in the heart’s arteries.

Higher levels indicate a build-up of plaque which increases the risk of heart attack and stroke.

Overall, women on HRT were 20 per cent more likely to have a “coronary calcium score” of zero.

They were 36 per cent less likely to score above 399, indicative of severe atherosclerosis and higher risk of heart attack.

After taking into account age and other cardiovascular risk factors including diabetes and high blood pressure, those on HRT were 30 per cent less likely to die than those not using it.

Study leader Doctor Yoav Arnson, of Cedars-Sinai Medical Centre in Los Angeles, said: "From a cardiovascular standpoint I believe it is beneficial to take hormone replacement therapy. Our results confirm and enhance previous work in terms of showing lower atherosclerosis.

“In addition, we’ve shown very clear survival benefits of using hormone replacement therapy. We do think it is beneficial.”

She said more work was needed to determine which groups may not benefit, or even be harmed, by taking HRT.