HeartSmartIMTplus


	Women and Coronary Heart Disease and Stroke Risk

	In 2001, over 43 million American women were older than 50. The risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) increases with age, and that's why it's important to raise awareness of this major public health issue for older women.

	Physicians can take an assertive role in risk factor intervention and in acknowledging gender differences in the treatment of CVD in women. Research shows that prevention of risk factors for cardiovascular disease is the best practical solution. The challenge is to communicate to your patients the importance of taking preventive steps on an everyday basis. The information found here will help you create awareness.

	Here are the facts as we know them today: CVD ranks first among all disease categories in hospital discharges for women. CVD, particularly coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke, remain the leading causes of death of women in America and most developed countries, with over 39 percent of all female deaths in the U.S. occurring from CVD. CVD is a particularly important problem among minority women. The death rate due to CVD is higher in black women than in white women. One in 2.5 females who die, die of heart disease, stroke and other cardiovascular disease compared with one in 30 who die of breast cancer. In 2002 CVD claimed the lives of 493,690 females — cancer 268,503. Coronary heart disease claims the lives of 241,622 females annually compared with 41,514 lives from breast cancer and 67,542 from lung cancer. 38 percent of women compared with 25 percent of men will die within one year after a heart attack. In 1999, 23 percent of nursing home residents age 65 and over had a primary diagnosis of cardiovascular disease. Of the approximately 5.4 million stroke survivors alive today, 56 percent are women. Stroke is a leading cause of serious, long-term disability 15 to 30 percent of stroke survivors are permanently disabled. Misperceptions still exist that CVD is not a real problem for women.

	Much attention has been directed toward a better appreciation of the influence of gender on cardiovascular risk and management, but important gaps in knowledge remain. Recent developments in cardiovascular research undoubtedly will have a significant impact on prevention, clinical care and outcomes of women and will provide direction for future work. Epidemiological studies and randomized clinical trials provide compelling evidence that coronary heart disease is largely preventable. Therefore, prevention of risk factors for cardiovascular disease is an important practical solution for women.

	Information provided by the American Heart Association.