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Published on: August 13, 2019
Reducing women's cardiovascular disease risk profile
Jacqueline Kurth1, Shaista Malik2
1Department of Medicine, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA.
Insights
Heart disease remains a critical health issue for women, with unique risk factors like diabetes and hypertension (HTN) contributing to higher risks. Women experience poorer outcomes from cardiovascular disease treatments and interventions.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Women's Health
- Public Health
Background:
- Heart disease is the primary cause of mortality in women globally.
- Specific risk factors such as pre-eclampsia, autoimmune diseases, diabetes, and hypertension (HTN) disproportionately affect women.
- Women with diabetes face elevated risks for coronary and microvascular diseases compared to men.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the unique cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors in women.
- To examine the specific challenges women face with hypertension and diabetes.
- To review the impact of CVD on women, including treatment outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of epidemiological data and clinical studies on CVD in women.
- Analysis of risk factors unique to female physiology and life stages.
- Comparison of CVD outcomes and treatment efficacy between sexes.
Main Results:
- Women with diabetes exhibit increased risk for coronary heart disease and microvascular disease.
- Older women frequently present with uncontrolled and treatment-resistant hypertension (HTN).
- Despite decreasing mortality rates, younger women are experiencing more heart attacks, and women show poorer outcomes with coronary artery bypass graft surgery and percutaneous interventions.
Conclusions:
- Unique risk factors and physiological differences necessitate tailored approaches to CVD prevention and management in women.
- Hypertension and diabetes management in women require special attention due to higher resistance and poorer outcomes.
- Further research is needed to improve treatment strategies and outcomes for cardiovascular disease in women.
Abstract:
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in women. Unique risk factors have been recognized, including pre-eclampsia, eclampsia and autoimmune diseases. Diabetes and hypertension (HTN) also play a unique role in women. Women with diabetes have a higher risk for coronary heart disease and microvascular disease compared with males. Additionally, older women have a high prevalence of uncontrolled HTN and women tend to have more treatment resistant HTN, increasing risk for cardiovascular events and mortality. The outcomes of cardiovascular disease have shown an increase in the number of heart attacks in younger women, though there is decreasing mortality. Treatment with coronary artery bypass graft surgery and percutaneous intervention has also shown to have poorer outcomes in women.
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