Objective:

To investigate the association between bilateral oophorectomy and the risk of developing heart failure in women.

Approach:

• Study Design: Analysis of data from 6,814 female patients participating in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 2017 to 2023.

Key Findings:

• Women who underwent bilateral oophorectomy had a 1.5-fold increased risk of developing heart failure compared to those with intact ovaries after adjusting for race, age, sex, diabetes, smoking status, and high cholesterol.
• White women and those who had the procedure at younger ages exhibited the highest risk profiles, with the risk doubling in these groups.
• The average age of women undergoing oophorectomy was 43.6 years.
• As the age at which a woman has her ovaries removed increases by 1 year, the onset of heart failure occurs approximately 0.6 years later.

Interpretation:

Limitations:

• Reliance on self-reported data.
• Inability to determine the specific timeframe in which oophorectomy may lead to heart failure.

Conclusion:

Sources:

• American College of Cardiology