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Womens heart health series: a mini-symposium
Allison McLarty1, Noelle Mann, William E Lawson
1Divisions of Cardiology and Cardiothoracic Surgery, The State University of New York at Stony Brook, Stony Brook, NY, USA.
Insights
Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a major health threat for women, often underestimated due to later onset after menopause. This review addresses the misperceptions, risk factors, diagnosis, and treatments for women
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Women's Health
- Public Health
Background:
- Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the leading cause of death in the U.S. for both men and women.
- The impact of CAD on women has been historically underestimated, with symptoms often appearing later, post-menopause.
- Despite high mortality rates from heart disease, many women perceive cancer as a greater threat.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the underestimation of CAD prevalence in women.
- To review risk factors, diagnostic methods, and treatment options for CAD in women.
- To discuss the controversial role of estrogen in women's heart disease.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on coronary artery disease in women.
- Analysis of epidemiological data regarding CAD incidence and mortality in women.
- Examination of risk factors, diagnostic techniques, and therapeutic interventions.
Main Results:
- CAD affects approximately 8 million women in the U.S., with significant mortality.
- Key risk factors include hypertension, high cholesterol, diabetes, and smoking.
- Diagnosis and treatment approaches are discussed, including medical management and surgical interventions.
Conclusions:
- Addressing the misperception of CAD prevalence in women is crucial.
- Comprehensive understanding of risk factors and tailored treatment strategies are essential for women's cardiovascular health.
- Further research into estrogen's role is needed for effective prevention and treatment.
Abstract:
Coronary artery disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States. While its incidence in men has been long appreciated, the impact on women has been underestimated for many years. This is in part because coronary artery disease generally appears later in women, the incidence increasing after the onset of the female menopause. There are approximately 8 million women living with heart disease in this country; almost 400.000 died from it in 1999 compared to almost 42.000 from breast cancer. Yet many women feel that cancer is more likely to be a cause of mortality. This review examines the common misperception of the prevalence of coronary artery disease in women and examines contributing risk factors such as hypertension, elevated serum cholesterol, diabetes mellitus and cigarette smoking. It considers access to care and diagnosis, both non-invasive and invasive, of coronary artery disease specifically as it pertains to women. Treatment options, ranging from medical management, through cardiac catheterization and percutaneous catheter based intervention, to coronary artery bypass surgery are discussed. In addition is included a section addressing the controversial issue of estrogen and its role in the incidence and treatment of heart disease in women.
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