Women's Heart Health

Heart disease is the leading cause of death for women, but it is often underrecognized. There are many sex-differences in the way women present with cardiovascular disease compared to men, and research in this area has led to growing calls for separate guidelines for the diagnosis, treatment and management of women because they often do not have the same symptoms. Women typically present with cardiovascular disease later in life than men and have higher a prevalence of microvascular disease and spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD). These have similar symptoms of heart attacks, but may not show clear blockages on imaging. Women also have unique risk factors related to pregnancy, complications such as preeclampsia and gestational diabetes, and menopause, which can all increase cardiovascular risks later in life.

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Circ: Gender may affect LV hypertrophy reversal after AV surgery

More women with aortic valve (AV) stenosis tended to exhibit left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy than men, but women also reversed the hypertrophy faster immediately following valve replacement surgery. Genetic differences affecting fibrosis may be responsible for this phenomenon, according to a study published in a surgical supplement, Circulation: Surgery for Valvular Heart Disease.

HRJ: Women may require unique ICD implantation considerations

Women in primary prevention implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) trials have the same overall mortality as men, while experiencing significantly less appropriate ICD interventions, according to a meta-analysis of five randomized studies published in this months HeartRhythm Journal.

SCAI: Female cardiac treatment disparities rooted in lack of knowledge

SAN DIEGOThe risk factor profile in women presenting with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and acute MI is distinctive compared to men, and cardiologists need to tailor their management of women with these differences in mind, noted Kimberly A. Skelding, MD, during a Wednesday presentation at the 33rd annual scientific sessions for the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI). Slides

AJC: Women less likely than men to have calcified plaque

In a trial to assess gender differences in coronary plaque composition, researchers found that women presented less coronary segments with calcified and mixed plaque than men and had exhibited lower rates of coronary segments with stenosis equal to or fewer than 70 percent. The study was published in the Feb. 15 issue of the American Journal of Cardiology.

CCC: Women do have same heart attack symptoms as men

The gender difference between men and women is a lot smaller than previously believed when it comes to heart attack symptoms, according to a study presented this week at the Canadian Cardiovascular Congress 2009, co-hosted by the Heart and Stroke Foundation and the Canadian Cardiovascular Society in Edmonton, Alberta.
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