Call to action: cardiovascular disease in women

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Cardiology
• Women's Health

Background:

• Cardiovascular disease (CVD) affects one-third of women aged 50-75, causing over 50% of annual female deaths.
• CVD is more lethal and less aggressively treated in women than men, with annual deaths exceeding all cancers combined.
• Alarmingly, only 8% of women recognize CVD as a personal health risk, indicating a significant knowledge and perception gap.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the critical need for physicians to actively identify and address cardiovascular disease risks in female patients.
• To emphasize the importance of early and continuous physician-patient dialogue regarding cardiovascular health behaviors.
• To underscore the necessity of comprehensive education on modifiable risk factors throughout a woman's lifespan.

Main Methods:

• Review of epidemiological data on cardiovascular disease prevalence and mortality in women.
• Analysis of women's perception of cardiovascular disease as a personal health threat.
• Identification of key cardiovascular risk factors relevant to the female population.

Main Results:

• Cardiovascular disease is the primary cause of mortality in women, surpassing all cancer deaths.
• A significant disparity exists in the lethality and treatment aggressiveness of CVD between genders.
• Low patient awareness of personal risk and the potential for risk modification is a major concern.

Conclusions:

• Physicians must proactively engage women in discussions about cardiovascular health to improve risk recognition and management.
• Lifelong patient education and communication are essential for fostering preventive behaviors.
• Addressing modifiable risk factors such as smoking, inactivity, hypertension, cholesterol, weight, diabetes, and menopause is paramount for all women.