Prevention: Heart Disease in Women
Heart disease continues to be the leading cause of death for women, accounting for 35% of all deaths in women in 2019. This includes conditions such as heart rhythm problems, heart failure, and coronary artery disease. While traditional risk factors such as genetics, hypertension, diabetes, obesity, high cholesterol, poor diet, inactivity, and smoking are well-known, there are also specific risk factors that affect women, such as premature menopause, gestational diabetes, and polycystic ovary syndrome. Additionally, there are under-recognized risk factors for women such as psychosocial factors, intimate partner violence, poor health literacy, and low socioeconomic status.
In 2021, the first-ever global report on cardiovascular disease in women was published in a leading scientific journal. The report highlights that although awareness of cardiovascular problems has increased, attention has not been given to assessing risk and sex-specific risk factors. As a result, cardiovascular disease in women remains under-recognized and under-treated. The report, written by leading female experts from 11 countries, includes 10 recommendations to address the sex differences in the assessment, treatment, and awareness of cardiovascular disease in women.
One of the key recommendations is to develop educational programs for health professionals and the general community on cardiovascular disease in women. Other experts also call for urgent action to improve care, prevent disease, and increase awareness of cardiovascular disease in women. A broader approach to women's health is also recommended, such as combining routine health checks for women and creating comprehensive health service centers for women where they can have both a heart health check and breast screening at the same appointment.
Advocacy groups such as Her Heart have been calling for increased awareness and tailored campaigns for women's heart health, as well as robust educational and training programs for medical, nursing, and allied health professionals. The authors of the Lancet report urge for urgent action to be taken, stating that "it's time we stopped talking about it, and took urgent action."
sources:
Vogel, B et al (2021). The Lancet women and cardiovascular disease Commission: reducing the global burden by 2030 accessed from https://doi.org/10.1016/ S0140-6736(21)00684-X
Perspectives: Roxana Mehran: driving force in women’s cardiovascular health (2021) accessed from https://doi.org/10.1016/ S0140-6736(21)01100-4