Published on
Updated
Reading 2 mins.
According to a Portuguese study revealed on April 10, endometriosis is associated with “a significantly increased risk” of developing cardiovascular problems. Bad news for the 10% of women who suffer from this gynecological disease.
One in 10 women of childbearing age in France suffer from endometriosis. This gynecological condition, which sees the uterine lining grow outside the uterus, causes both severe pain and fertility problems in people who suffer from it. But it seems that these are not the only consequences. According to a new study conducted by researchers from the University of Lisbon in Portugal, there is a potential link between the presence of endometriosis and an increased risk of cardiovascular disease.
A higher cardiovascular risk in case of endometriosis
This observation is the result of a meta-analysis of six cohort studies, carried out on 254,929 participants, without distinction of age or severity of the disease. By comparing subjects with or without endometriosis, the researchers found a link with cardiovascular pathologies:
“Our research showed that endometriosis was associated with a significantly increased risk of ischemic heart disease (+50%) and cerebrovascular disease (+17%). Three studies reported data on the risk of ischemic heart disease compared to women without endometriosis.The pooled estimate showed that endometriosis was significantly associated with an increased risk of ischemic heart disease.The analysis for the risk of cerebrovascular disease showed a significant association with an increased risk in women with endometriosis. “
Pain, arterial stiffness and falling hormones involved?
For the researchers, several reasons could explain this unfortunate association.
- The first being the oxidative stress and high blood pressure generated by the pains of the disease. “The use of certain pain medications may increase the risk of coronary heart disease. The emotional and psychological stress resulting from pain also increases the risk of cardiovascular disease” say the researchers.
- Two studies have suggested another possible cause: endometriosis could increase arterial stiffness in premenopausal women. However, we also know that arterial stiffness is an early marker of changes in the arterial wall. And therefore constitute a cardiovascular risk.
- The duration of oral contraceptive administration in women with endometriosis was also positively associated with the risk of cardiovascular disease, as was potentially treatment-induced early menopause. The researchers thus evoke a possible risk in the event of treatment of the disease by hysterectomy, or oophorectomy, which however requires to be better explored: “While two studies suggest that surgical treatment of endometriosis with these procedures increased the risk of coronary heart disease and stroke compared to women without endometriosis, another study found no difference in cardiovascular outcomes of two groups.”
Hysterectomy has been associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease in women younger than 50. But some studies suggest that when hysterectomy is combined with oophorectomy, the sudden drop in estrogen concentration increases the risk. Further research will need to be conducted to better identify the risks.
Towards a better cardiovascular follow-up in case of endometriosis?
In conclusion, the results indicated that endometriosis significantly increased the risk of cardiovascular disease in women. Surgical treatment options for endometriosis, psychological stress, and analgesic medications prescribed to manage chronic pelvic pain could also help explain this excess risk. Concretely, the management of women with endometriosis should ideally involve prevention and regular monitoring of their cardiovascular health.