January 1, 2014Open Access
Gender Disparities In Optimal Lipid Control Among Patients with Coronary Artery Disease
Key Result
A substantial gender gap exists in lipid goal attainment among individuals with or at risk of coronary heart disease, highlighting the need to improve awareness and narrow disparities in management.
Structured PICO
Does gender affect the attainment of optimal lipid control in patients with or at risk of coronary artery disease?
P
Population
Individuals with or at risk of coronary heart disease (CHD)
I
Intervention
Lipid-lowering therapy (primarily statins)
O
Outcome
Lipid goal attainment (e.g., LDL-C <100 mg/dL or <70 mg/dL) and cardiovascular event reduction
Despite statins being highly effective in both sexes, significant gender disparities exist in clinical practice, with women being less likely to achieve optimal lipid control targets.
Abstract
Coronary heart disease(CHD) is the leading cause of death worldwide in both men and women. Hypercholesterolemia is a major factor contributing to the incidence of CHD. Many lipid-lowering trials have shown statins to be effective medications for the primary and secondary prevention of CHD. Some studies have suggested that statins are as or more effective in women than in men. However, there is a substantial gender gap in lipid goal attainment with respect to primary care guidelines, as reported in observational studies. In this article, we attempt to explain gender differences in lipid control in individuals with or at risk of CHD in order to improve awareness of and narrow gaps in gender disparities in lipid management.