PMDs and risk of cardiovascular diseases
Nature Cardiovascular Research, Jul 2025 | Link to publication
This study reported findings from a large, long-term study of Swedish women. The research group analyzed health records from over 3 million women in Sweden over two decades. From this large group, the main analysis focused on 99,411 women diagnosed with premenstrual disorders (PMS or PMDD). For comparison, the study also included a “sibling cohort” of 36,061 women with premenstrual disorders to help account for family background and genetics.
The study compared the heart health of women with premenstrual disorders to those without. Specifically, it looked at comparing the risk of being diagnosed with cardiovascular diseases, including high blood pressure, heart attacks, heart failure, irregular heartbeats (arrhythmia), and stroke. It also looked at whether starting these symptoms at a younger age (before 25, 30, or 35) made a difference.
The researchers found that women with PMDs had an incidence rate (new diagnoses) of cardiovascular disease at 12.15 per 1,000 person-years. This means that, on average, over 1,000 women followed for one year, there were approximately 12 new cases of CVD among those with PMDs, compared to fewer cases in the group without PMDs. Those with PMDs had an 11% higher risk for cardiovascular disease compared to those without PMDs. People whose PMD symptoms started at a younger age showed a stronger link to heart problems. The sibling group helped confirm that the link wasn’t just due to shared family traits.
What does this mean? Women who experience PMS or PMDD may be a little more likely to develop heart problems as they get older. However, the increase in risk is small. This means that having PMS or PMDD symptoms might mean that the chance of heart disease is a bit higher than someone without these symptoms, but it’s not a large jump. A majority of women with these symptoms will not go on to develop cardiovascular disease, but it’s something to keep in mind, especially if you have other risk factors.
What can we do? These findings highlight the importance of monitoring cardiovascular risk in individuals with significant premenstrual symptoms. Healthcare providers should consider menstrual health history as part of a comprehensive cardiovascular risk assessment, especially in women with severe or persistent PMS/PMD symptoms.
