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Identifying Coronary Artery Calcification on Non-gated Computed Tomography Scans
Published on: August 28, 2018
[Coronary artery disease: what's different in women?]
1Klinik für Kardiologie, Pneumologie und Angiologie, Klinikum der Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf. schannw@uni-duesseldorf.de
Insights
Cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of death. Coronary heart disease in women is underestimated, with diagnosis delayed and screening tests less effective, but revascularization is safe and effective.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Women's Health
- Public Health
Context:
- Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the primary cause of mortality in developed nations.
- Coronary artery disease (CAD) significantly impacts women's health, yet it is clinically underestimated.
- Women experience a 10-year lag in clinical presentation of CAD compared to men, despite increased incidence with age.
Purpose:
- To highlight the underestimation and diagnostic challenges of coronary heart disease (CHD) in women.
- To review the safety and efficacy of coronary revascularization strategies in women.
- To emphasize the need for improved diagnostic and treatment approaches for women's cardiovascular health.
Summary:
- Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a major cause of death, particularly affecting women, who often present with delayed diagnoses and less sensitive screening results.
- Despite these challenges, recent advancements in treatments and surgical techniques indicate that coronary revascularization procedures are equally safe and effective for both women and men.
- This underscores a critical gap in the clinical recognition and management of heart disease in women.
Impact:
- Improved awareness and diagnosis of coronary heart disease in women.
- Enhanced understanding of the efficacy and safety of revascularization in female patients.
- Potential for more equitable cardiovascular care and reduced mortality rates for women.
Abstract:
Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of mortality for women and men in developed countries. Although coronary artery disease is the major cause of morbidity and mortality in women, coronary heart disease in women is still clinically underestimated. Although the incidence of coronary heart disease increases with age in women, the clinical presentation of the disease lags 10 years behind that in men. Unfortunately, the routinely available noninvasive tests used to screen the presence of coronary artery disease have been relatively insensitive and nonspecific for women. However, recent advances in device application, adjunctive therapies and surgical techniques suggest that coronary revascularization strategies are safe and effective for women and men.
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