Traditional and female-specific risk factors, including pregnancy and menopause, uniquely impact the development and management of coronary artery disease in women.
Women face unique cardiovascular risk factors related to pregnancy, menopause, and exogenous estrogen, necessitating tailored preventive efforts.
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in women in the US. Although the overall death rate due to CVD has decreased recently, it has actually increased in young women. Coronary Artery Disease (CAD), which may lead to myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure, and death, is an important focus for preventive efforts. The impact of traditional cardiovascular risk factors such as family history, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and smoking differs with gender. Women face unique risks related to pregnancy, menopause, and exogenous estrogen, and are more likely to develop other diseases (e.g autoimmune diseases, breast cancer) whose course or treatment may be complicated by CAD. This article will review CAD risk factors in women, tools to quantify that risk, and interventions to decrease it.
Alsarah et al. (Fri,) conducted a review in Coronary Artery Disease. Traditional and female-specific risk factors, including pregnancy and menopause, uniquely impact the development and management of coronary artery disease in women.