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Sex-Specific Differences in Cardiovascular Risk, Risk Factors and Risk Management in the Peripheral Arterial Disease

Anna Louise Pouncey1, Mark Woodward2,3

  • 1Department of Vascular Surgery, Division of Surgery and Cancer, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, QEQM, St Mary's Hospital, Praed Street, London W2 1NY, UK.

Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland)
|April 23, 2022
PubMed

Insights

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) affects women as much as men, yet remains under-recognized. This review highlights cardiovascular risks and sex differences in PAD management to improve preventative care for women.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Vascular Health
  • Sex Differences in Disease

Background:

  • Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in women globally, often overlooked as a male-predominant condition.
  • Peripheral arterial disease (PAD), a major component of CVD, confers a higher risk of cardiovascular events than ischemic heart disease (IHD) or stroke.
  • Despite similar prevalence in men and women, PAD and associated cardiovascular risks in women are under-recognized, leading to delayed preventative treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review current evidence on cardiovascular risk in women and men with PAD.
  • To examine the significance of traditional and non-traditional risk factors in PAD, focusing on sex-specific differences.
  • To discuss current cardiovascular risk management strategies for PAD, highlighting knowledge gaps in women.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of existing studies on peripheral arterial disease (PAD) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk.
  • Analysis of traditional and non-traditional risk factors for CVD in the context of PAD.
  • Examination of sex-specific data regarding PAD prevalence, risk factors, and treatment efficacy.

Main Results:

  • Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) significantly increases the risk of major cardiovascular events, comparable to or exceeding that of ischemic heart disease (IHD) or stroke.
  • Women are affected by PAD at least as frequently as men, yet knowledge gaps persist regarding sex-specific risk factors and treatment effectiveness.
  • Individuals with PAD often receive less preventative treatment than those with IHD, a disparity potentially exacerbated by under-recognition of risk in women.

Conclusions:

  • Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) represents a critical, yet under-recognized, cardiovascular risk in women, necessitating targeted attention.
  • Addressing sex-specific knowledge gaps in PAD risk factors and treatment is crucial for effective cardiovascular risk management in women.
  • Increased awareness and tailored interventions are essential to mitigate the significant cardiovascular morbidity associated with PAD in the female population.

Keywords:
cardiovascular riskperipheral arterial diseasesex

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