Barriers to managing coronary artery disease among older women

Shirley Musich1, Ronald J Ozminkowski, Frank G Bottone

  • 1a OptumInsight , Ann Arbor , MI.

Insights

Managing coronary artery disease (CAD) in older women faces barriers like denial and low health literacy. Improving patient awareness and doctor-patient communication can help overcome these challenges for better heart health management.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Geriatric Medicine
  • Health Services Research

Background:

  • Coronary artery disease (CAD) management in older women is complex.
  • Existing research often overlooks demographic and health status variations.
  • Identifying specific barriers is crucial for effective intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify and analyze barriers to coronary artery disease management in older women.
  • To assess the impact of these barriers on healthcare utilization.
  • To inform strategies for improving CAD care in this demographic.

Main Methods:

  • Survey distributed to a stratified random sample of older women with CAD.
  • Factor analysis used to identify underlying barrier structures.
  • Multiple logistic regression analyzed the impact of barriers on office visits.

Main Results:

  • Denial and low health literacy emerged as the most significant barriers.
  • These factors were associated with reduced access to CAD-related care.
  • Demographic and health status adjustments were made.

Conclusions:

  • Targeted interventions addressing patient awareness and health literacy are needed.
  • Enhanced patient-clinician communication can mitigate management barriers.
  • Future efforts should focus on patient-centered strategies for older women with CAD.

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