Medical Bulletin 29/September/2025 - Video

Here are the top medical news for the day:

Meta-Analysis Confirms COVID-19 Vaccination in Pregnancy Protects Both Mother and Baby Safely

An analysis of data from over 1.2 million pregnant individuals found that those who received a COVID-19 vaccination had a 58% lower risk of being infected with the virus, as well as a lower risk of experiencing a stillbirth or preterm birth, according to research presented during the American Academy of Pediatrics 2025 National Conference & Exhibition at the Colorado Convention Center from Sept. 26-30.

For the study, the author conducted a systematic search where she included 23 meta-analyses inclusive of over 200 studies and 1,250,000 pregnant individuals with documented COVID-19 vaccination.

We found that the COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy offers significant protections to newborns and mothers,” said Nikan Zargarzadeh, study author and Harvard University research fellow. “This information can help support informed decision-making for pregnant individuals and their care teams.”

The review found those who received a COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy had an 8% lower risk of preterm birth before 37 weeks and a 34% lower risk of preterm birth before 28 weeks. Vaccination was also associated with an 25% lower risk of stillbirth and an 9% lower risk of neonatal intensive care admission, as well as a 17% lower risk of congenital anomalies, according to the study abstract. There were no increased risks observed for maternal hospitalization, intensive care admission, gestational diabetes, hypertension, or pre-eclampsia.

Ref: Meta-analysis: COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy is safe and beneficial for mother and infant; American Academy of Pediatrics

JAMA Study: Hormone Therapy for Menopausal Symptoms Safe at 50–59, Raises Risks After 70

A secondary analysis of two randomized clinical trials found that conjugated equine estrogens (CEE) alone and CEE plus medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) reduced vasomotor symptoms (VMS) without raising ASCVD risk in postmenopausal women aged 50–59. However, in women aged 70 and older with VMS, ASCVD risks increased. Findings support HT use in women 50–59, caution for ages 60–69, and avoidance in those 70+.

Published in JAMA Internal Medicine, the investigation revisited data from the landmark Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) hormone therapy trials. Jacques E. Rossouw, MD, of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, and colleagues examined outcomes in 27,347 postmenopausal participants, aiming to clarify which women with moderate to severe VMS might safely benefit from hormone therapy (HT).

The analysis included women aged 50 to 79 years from 40 U.S. clinical centers who were followed for up to eight years. Participants received either daily conjugated equine estrogens (CEE) 0.625 mg alone, CEE combined with medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) 2.5 mg, or placebo. The primary focus was the incidence of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), encompassing nonfatal heart attack, angina requiring hospitalization, coronary revascularization, ischemic stroke, peripheral arterial disease, carotid artery disease, or cardiovascular death.

The findings showed that Hormone therapy significantly relieved moderate or severe vasomotor symptoms (VMS) in women enrolled at baseline. CEE alone reduced VMS by about 41% across all age groups. The combination of CEE plus MPA showed the greatest benefit in younger women, with effectiveness declining with age. Relative risk reductions for VMS were 59% in women aged 50–59, 28% in women aged 60–69, and showed virtually no benefit in those aged 70–79. Cardiovascular outcomes demonstrated a clear age-related pattern.

These findings reinforce current guidance that favors menopausal hormone therapy for healthy, recently postmenopausal women suffering moderate to severe hot flashes or night sweats, while advising caution after age 60 and recommending against initiation after age 70. The authors note that only oral CEE and MPA were tested, and some subgroups were small, but emphasize that new large trials in this population are unlikely.

Ref: Rossouw JE, Aragaki AK, Manson JE, et al. Menopausal Hormone Therapy and Cardiovascular Diseases in Women With Vasomotor Symptoms: A Secondary Analysis of the Women’s Health Initiative Randomized Clinical Trials. JAMA Intern Med. Published online September 15, 2025. doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2025.4510

Gout Tied to Elevated 10-Year Risk of Heart Attack and Stroke, Study Reveals

A large population-based study from South Korea has found that people with gout remain at a significantly higher risk of major cardiovascular (CV) events over a decade, even when long-term changes in blood pressure and cholesterol are taken into account. Researchers reported that worsening of these risk factors over ten years further magnified the likelihood of stroke, heart attack, and death.

Gout is a chronic inflammatory condition characterized by elevated uric acid levels and recurrent attacks of painful arthritis. While its connection to cardiovascular disease has been suspected for years, the study offers one of the most comprehensive assessments of how the disease interacts with evolving risk factors over time.

The investigation, published in Rheumatology and led by Dr. Byeongzu Ghang of the Division of Rheumatology at Jeju National University School of Medicine and Jeju National University Hospital, analyzed data from the Korean National Health Insurance claims database and the National Health Screening Program. It included 113,853 adults newly diagnosed with gout after January 2012 and more than 1.1 million age- and sex-matched individuals without gout. All participants were followed for ten years to track changes in cardiovascular risk factors and the occurrence of major adverse events.

The results showed that Gout independently predicted serious cardiovascular complications, even after accounting for baseline risk factors and their changes over a decade. Patients with gout had a 50% higher risk of cerebral hemorrhage compared with controls. The risk of cerebral infarction (ischemic stroke) was 36% higher in the gout group. Myocardial infarction risk was elevated by 39% among those with gout. All-cause mortality was modestly but significantly higher, with a 7% increase. Worsening diastolic blood pressure over ten years was linked to greater odds of both myocardial infarction and cerebral infarction. Rising total cholesterol levels during the same period were associated with an increased risk of cerebral hemorrhage.

These findings highlight the importance of monitoring long-term trends, not just single-point measurements, when managing cardiovascular health in gout patients.

The authors stress that effective control of traditional cardiovascular risks—such as blood pressure and cholesterol—remains crucial in people with gout, but it may not be enough on its own. “Gout itself appears to confer an additional burden of cardiovascular risk that persists even after accounting for baseline health and decade-long changes,” they noted.

Ref: Ghang, B., Kim, J., Kang, T., & Kim, H. J. Ten-year cardiovascular risk changes and major adverse events in gout patients. Rheumatology. https://doi.org/10.1093/rheumatology/keaf322