Women and cardiovascular disease: at a social disadvantage?

Cardiovascular disease is the most common cause of death in Australian women. The genesis and progression of cardiovascular disease is modulated by a complex interplay of genetic, physiological, social and economic circumstances. Increasingly the impact of racial, ethic, social and economic inequalities is identified as predictors of cardiovascular disease outcome. Despite important advances over the last 30 years in reducing age adjusted mortality from cardiovascular disease, it continues to represent a major social and economic burden nationally and internationally.

This paper provides a critical review of the social issues impacting upon women in Australia. It also identifies areas for future interventions with a view to improving outcomes in women with cardiovascular disease.

The bibliographic databases; CINAHL, MEDLINE, PsycARTICLES, were searched for relevant studies using the search terms 'women', 'cardiovascular disease', and 'socio-economic status'.

While some gains have been made in reducing the risk factor profile and rates of death from cardiovascular disease, it is clear that gender, race and socioeconomic disparities persist.

New approaches are required to improve health differentials for CVD, and reduce the impact of gender, racial, ethic, social and economic factors on health disparities.