Cardiovascular Disease Among Women From Vulnerable Populations: A Review

Stressful life events and heart disease and stroke: A study among Portuguese older adults

The link between stressful life events (SLE) and cardiovascular diseases (CVD) remains underexplored. This study aimed to examine the association between SLE and the diagnosis of heart disease or stroke, among older adults. Data from 678 participants from the population-based cohort EPIPorto, with ≥60 years and complete information regarding SLE and heart disease or stroke, were analysed. Stressful life events were measured through the 'Stressful Life Events Screening Questionnaire'. A previous diagnosis of heart disease or stroke was self-reported. Adjusted odds ratios (OR) with the respective 95% confidence intervals were computed through logistic regression. Almost a fourth of the participants never experienced any SLE throughout life, 30.0% experienced at least one event, 17.5% experienced two and 27.7% had experienced three or more SLE. A dose-effect association between SLE and the diagnosis of heart disease or stroke was observed, statistically significant for those who had at least 3 types of SLE, independently of confounders (≥3SLE vs. 0SLE: OR = 2.00; 95% CI: 1.12-3.57). This cross-sectional study suggests that cumulative exposure to different types of SLE during the life course was associated with a higher likelihood of having a diagnosis of heart disease or a stroke at a later age. Future longitudinal studies should better deepen this association, particularly by evaluating which type of SLE is more related to a higher prevalence of heart disease and stroke, and how the timing of the SLE influence this relation.

The Development of a Chest-Pain Protocol for Women Presenting to the Emergency Department

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in women worldwide, and of premature death in women in Canada. Despite improvements in cardiovascular care over the past 15-20 years, acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and CVD mortality continue to increase among women in Canada. Chest pain is a common symptom leading to emergency department visits for both men and women. However, women with ACS experience worse outcomes. compared with those of men, due to misdiagnosis or lack of diagnosis resulting in delayed care and underuse of guideline-directed medical therapies. CVD mortality rates are highest in Indigenous and racialized women and those with a disproportionately high number of adverse social determinants of health. CVD remains underrecognized, underdiagnosed, undertreated, and underresearched in women. Moreover, a lack of awareness of unique symptoms, clinical presentations, and sex-and-gender specific CVD risk factors, by healthcare professionals, leads to outcome disparities. In response to this knowledge gap, in acute recognition and management of chest-pain syndromes in women, the Canadian Women's Heart Health Alliance performed a needs assessment and review of CVD risk factors and ACS pathophysiology, through a sex and gender lens, and then developed a unique chest-pain assessment protocol utilizing modified dynamic programming algorithmic methodology. The resulting algorithmic protocol is presented. The output is intended as a quick reference algorithm that could be posted in emergency departments and other acute-care settings. Next steps include protocol implementation evaluation and impact assessment on CVD outcomes in women.

The Canadian Women's Heart Health Alliance ATLAS on the Epidemiology, Diagnosis, and Management of Cardiovascular Disease in Women - Chapter 9: Summary of Current Status, Challenges, Opportunities, and Recommendations

This final chapter of the Canadian Women's Heart Health Alliance "ATLAS on the Epidemiology, Diagnosis, and Management of Cardiovascular Disease in Women" presents ATLAS highlights from the perspective of current status, challenges, and opportunities in cardiovascular care for women. We conclude with 12 specific recommendations for actionable next steps to further the existing progress that has been made in addressing these knowledge gaps by tackling the remaining outstanding disparities in women's cardiovascular care, with the goal to improve outcomes for women in Canada.

Gender differences in the association of individual and contextual socioeconomic status with hypertension in 230 Latin American cities from the SALURBAL study: a multilevel analysis

BACKGROUND

Despite global interest in gender disparities and social determinants of hypertension, research in urban areas and regions with a high prevalence of hypertension, such as Latin America, is very limited. The objective of this study was to examine associations of individual- and area-level socioeconomic status with hypertension in adults living in 230 cities in eight Latin America countries.

METHODS

In this cross-sectional study, we used harmonized data from 109,184 adults (aged 18-97 years) from the SALURBAL (Salud Urbana en America Latina/Urban Health in Latin America) project. Hypertension was assessed by self-report. Individual-, sub-city- and city-level education were used as proxies of socioeconomic status. All models were stratified by gender.

RESULTS

Higher individual-level education was associated with lower odds of hypertension among women (university education or higher versus lower than primary: odds ratio [OR] = 0.67, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.61-0.74) but higher odds among men (OR = 1.65; 95%CI 1.47-1.86), although in men an inverse association emerged when measured blood pressure was used (OR = 0.86; 95%CI 0.76-0.97). For both genders, living in sub-city areas with higher educational achievement was associated with higher odds of hypertension (OR per standard deviation [SD] = 1.07, 95%CI = 1.02-1.12; OR = 1.11 per SD, 95%CI = 1.05-1.18, for women and men, respectively). The association of city-level education with hypertension varied across countries. In Peru, there was an inverse association (higher city level education was associated with lower odds of hypertension) in women and men, but in other countries no association was observed. In addition, the inverse association of individual-level education with hypertension became stronger (in women) or emerged (in men) as city or sub-city education increased.

CONCLUSION

The social patterning of hypertension differs by gender and by the level of analysis highlighting the importance of context- and gender-sensitive approaches and policies to reduce the prevalence of hypertension in Latin America.

AlOsta M, Othman EH, Hamadneh S. Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors Awareness among Women with a History of Preeclampsia in Jordan

Introduction

Preeclampsia is a pregnancy-specific hypertensive disease that affects 3-5% of pregnant women all over the world and 1.3% of pregnancies among Jordanian women.

Objectives

This study aims to assess the cardiovascular disease risk factors awareness among women with a recent history of preeclampsia in Jordan and assess the role of healthcare providers in providing counseling about cardiovascular disease risk factors.

Methods

A descriptive cross-sectional design was used to recruit 180 women with a recent history of preeclampsia during the last 12 months. Data were obtained from patients' medical records and the Attitude and Beliefs about Cardiovascular Disease Risk Questionnaires.

Results

The results revealed that 43.9% of women with a recent history of preeclampsia have hypertension, 6.7% have diabetes mellitus, 16.1% have dyslipidemia, 28.9% have a family history of cardiovascular disease, 66.1% are overweight or obese, and 7.2% are smokers. The mean total score of knowledge subscale was 5.5 (SD  =  1.21) out of 8. Only 20% of the participants had good cardiovascular disease knowledge. The mean total score of risk perception was 15.47 (SD  =  7.8). The mean score of perceived benefits and intention to change behaviors was 2.30 (SD  =  0.62). The mean score of healthy eating intentions was 2.54 (SD  =  0.81). Income, having diabetes mellitus, and receiving counseling about preeclampsia as cardiovascular disease risk factor were associated with some dimensions of cardiovascular disease risk factors awareness.

Conclusion

The prevalence of cardiovascular disease risk factors was relatively high among the study participants. The majority of participants had inadequate cardiovascular disease knowledge. In addition, the role of healthcare providers in providing counseling about cardiovascular disease and related risk factors, including PE was limited. Providing more counseling related to cardiovascular disease by nurses and doctors is essential to enhance women's cardiovascular disease knowledge and intention to change lifestyle.

Sex-specific associations between lifetime diagnosis of bipolar disorder and cardiovascular disease: A cross-sectional analysis of 257,673 participants from the UK Biobank

BACKGROUND

Sex is seldom considered as a potential moderator of the impact of bipolar disorder (BD) on cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. We aimed to characterize the sex-specific association of CVD and BD using data from the UK Biobank.

METHODS

In a cross-sectional analysis, we compared the odds ratio between women and men with BD for seven CVD diagnoses (coronary artery disease, myocardial infarction, angina, atrial fibrillation, heart failure, stroke, and essential hypertension) and four cardiovascular biomarkers (arterial stiffness index, low-density lipoprotein, C-reactive protein, and HbA1c) in 293 participants with BD and 257,380 psychiatrically healthy controls in the UK Biobank.

RESULTS

After adjusting for age, we found a two- to three-fold stronger association among women than among men between BD and rates of coronary artery disease, heart failure, and essential hypertension, with a significant sex-by-diagnosis interactions. The association remained significant after controlling for self-reported race, education, income, and smoking status. After controlling for potential confounders, there was no significant association between sex and any cardiovascular biomarkers.

LIMITATIONS

These analyses could not disentangle effects of BD from its treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results underscore the importance of incorporating sex and mental illness in risk estimation tools for CVD, and improving screening for, and timely treatment of, CVD in those with BD. Future research is needed to better understand the contributors and mechanisms of sex differences related to CVD risk in BD.

Effect of combined aerobic and resistance exercise on blood pressure in postmenopausal women: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of combined aerobic and resistance exercise on blood pressure (BP) in postmenopausal women. The results of this study will provide an effective means for postmenopausal women to control BP and reduce the morbidity and mortality of cardiovascular disease (CVD).

METHODS

Eligible studies were searched in five electronic databases until November 2020, and 11 randomized controlled trials that met the inclusion criteria were included in this systematic review and meta-analysis. The random-effects model was used to calculate overall effect sizes of weighted mean differences (WMD) and 95% confidence interval (CI). This study was registered in PROSPERO with the registration number: CRD42021225546.

RESULTS

Compared with the control group, the aerobic combined resistance exercise significantly decreased the systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) by 0.81 mmHg (95% CI, -1.34 to -0.28) and 0.62 mmHg (95% CI, -1.11 to -0.14), respectively. The results of the meta-analysis also indicated that a significant reduction in brachial-to-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) of - 1.18 m/s (95% CI, -1.81 to -0.56) and heart rate (HR) of -0.22 beats/min (95% CI: -0.42 to -0.02) after combined aerobic and resistance exercise intervention. Subgroup analysis showed that postmenopausal women ≥60 years of age who were overweight or had a normal baseline BP were more sensitive to the combined aerobic and resistance exercise. When combined aerobic and resistance exercise frequency < 3 times/week, weekly exercise time ≥ 150 min, or the duration of exercise lasted for 12 weeks, the SBP and DBP of postmenopausal women could be reduced more effectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The present study indicates that combined aerobic and resistance exercise can significantly reduce BP in postmenopausal women. Accordingly, combined aerobic and resistance exercise may be an effective way to prevent and manage hypertension in postmenopausal women.

The Canadian Women's Heart Health Alliance ATLAS on the Epidemiology, Diagnosis, and Management of Cardiovascular Disease in Women-Chapter 2: Scope of the Problem

Background

This Atlas chapter summarizes the epidemiology of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in women in Canada, discusses sex and gender disparities, and examines the intersectionality between sex and other factors that play a prominent role in CVD outcomes in women, including gender, indigenous identity, ethnic variation, disability, and socioeconomic status.

Methods

CVD is the leading cause of premature death in Canadian women. Coronary artery disease, including myocardial infarction, and followed by stroke, accounts for the majority of CVD-related deaths in Canadian women. The majority of emergency department visits and hospitalizations by women are due to coronary artery disease, heart failure, and stroke. The effect of traditional cardiovascular risk factors and their association with increasing cardiovascular morbidity is unique in this group.

Results

Indigenous women in Canada experience increased CVD, linked to colonization and subsequent social, economic, and political challenges. Women from particular racial and ethnic backgrounds (ie, South Asian, Afro-Caribbean, Hispanic, and Chinese North American women) have greater CVD risk factors, and CVD risk in East Asian women increases with duration of stay in Canada.

Conclusions

Canadians living in northern, rural, remote, and on-reserve residences experience greater CVD morbidity, mortality, and risk factors. An increase in CVD risk among Canadian women has been linked with a background of lower socioeconomic status, and women with disabilities have an increased risk of adverse cardiac events.

Cardiovascular risk in patients with severe mental illness in Italy

BACKGROUND

Patients with severe mental illness (SMI), such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorders, are more frequently affected by metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular (CV) diseases than the general population, with a significant reduction in life expectancy. Beyond metabolic syndrome, quantifying the risk of CV morbidity in the long-term may help clinicians to put in place preventive strategies. In this study, we assessed 10-year CV risk in patients with SMI and healthy individuals using an algorithm validated on the Italian general population.

METHODS

Patients aged 35-69 years diagnosed with SMI were consecutively recruited from psychiatric acute care units. Single CV risk factors were assessed, and 10-year CV risk calculated by means of the CUORE Project 10-year CV risk algorithm, based on the combination of the following risk factors: age, systolic blood pressure, total and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, diabetes, smoking habit, and hypertensive treatment. Patients' data were compared with those from the general population. The 10-year CV risk was log-transformed, and multivariable linear regression was used to estimate mean ratios, adjusting for age, and education.

RESULTS

Three hundred patients and 3,052 controls were included in the analysis. Among men, the 10-year CV risk score was very similar between patients with SMI and the general population (mean ratio [MR]: 1.02; 95%CI 0.77-1.37), whereas a 39% increase in 10-year CV risk was observed in women with SMI compared to the general population (MR: 1.39; 95%CI 1.16-1.66).

CONCLUSIONS

In our study, women with SMI were consistently more at risk than the general population counterpart, even at younger age.

Socioeconomic status and cardiovascular risk factors in young adults: a cross-sectional analysis of a Brazilian birth cohort

INTRODUCTION

In high-income countries, persons of high socioeconomic status (SES) have a lower cardiovascular risk. However, in middle and low-income countries, the results are controversial.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the association between family income and cardiovascular risk factors in young adults.

METHODS

A total of 2,063 individuals of a birth cohort initiated in 1978/79 in the city of Ribeirão Preto, Brazil, were evaluated at age of 23/25 years. Cardiovascular risk factors (hypertension, sedentary lifestyle, smoking, low high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol, high low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol, high fibrinogen, insulin resistance, diabetes, abdominal and total obesity, and metabolic syndrome) were evaluated according to family income. Income was assessed in multiples of the minimum wage. Simple Poisson regression models were used to estimate the prevalence ratios (PR) with robust estimation of the variance.

RESULTS

High-income women showed lower prevalences of low HDL-cholesterol (PR = 0.47), total obesity (PR = 0.22), abdominal obesity (PR = 0.28), high blood pressure (PR = 0.28), insulin resistance (PR = 0.57), sedentary lifestyle (PR = 0.47), metabolic syndrome (PR = 0.24), and high caloric intake (PR = 0.71) (p < 0.05). High-income men showed lower prevalences of low HDL-cholesterol (PR = 0.73) and sedentarism (PR = 0.81) (p < 0.05). These results may be explained by the fact that high-income women pay more attention to healthy habits and those with the lowest family income are least likely to access health services resources and treatments.

CONCLUSION

Women were in the final phase of the epidemiologic transition, whereas men were in the middle phase.

Investigating the Use of Mobile Health Interventions in Vulnerable Populations for Cardiovascular Disease Management: Scoping Review

Background

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) has grown to become one of the leading causes of mortality worldwide. The advancements of CVD-related treatments have led to a decline in CVD prevalence among individuals in high-income countries (HICs). However, these improvements do not reflect the state of individuals in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) and vulnerable subgroup populations in HICs, such as the Indigenous. To help minimize the health disparities in these populations, technology-based interventions have been offered as a potential solution, but there is concern regarding if they will be effective, or even needed, as these tools have been designed for use in HICs.

Objective

The objective of this study was to explore how mobile health (mHealth) interventions currently assist individuals in Indigenous communities and LMICs with CVD management.

Methods

A scoping review guided by the methods outlined by Arksey and O’Malley was conducted. A comprehensive search was completed by 2 reviewers in 5 electronic databases using keywords related to mobile health, cardiovascular disease, self-care, Indigenous communities, and LMICs. Studies were screened over 2 rounds and critically reviewed using a descriptive-analytical narrative method. Descriptive data were categorized into thematic groups reflecting the major findings related to the study objective.

Results

We identified a total of 11 original articles and 11 review papers that met the criteria for this scoping review. The majority of the studies included a telemonitoring- and text messaging (short message service, SMS)–related feature associated with the intervention. The use of SMS was the most common approach to effectively promote disease management among individuals in both LMICs and Indigenous communities. However, customizing for cultural considerations within the design of the intervention was highlighted as a pivotal component to encourage CVD management. Specifically, individuals emphasized that the inclusion of collaborative partnerships with community members would strengthen the effectiveness of the intervention by ensuring it was designed with the appropriate context.

Conclusions

Technology-based interventions used within Indigenous communities and LMICs have shown their potential to assist individuals with managing their condition. Although the literature available regarding this topic is limited, this review outlines key components to promote the effective use of these tools in the context of these vulnerable populations.

The variation of the burden of hypertension and diabetes in two large districts of the city of São Paulo, Brazil, based on primary health care routinely-collected data

BACKGROUND

Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) were responsible for 72.3% of global deaths in 2016, with cardiovascular diseases accounting for almost half of those deaths and low- and middle-income countries carrying the biggest burden. As a result, the prevention and control of NCDs is recognized as urgent, while better surveillance at the country level could result in more effective policies. Hence, the objective of this study was to obtain more detailed information on the distribution of the prevalence of hypertension and diabetes among the population of two large districts of the city of São Paulo in Brazil, and to compare these findings to the results of a citywide health survey.

METHODS AND FINDINGS

This cross-sectional study used primary health care (PHC) routinely-collected data. The study population included 187,110 individuals 20 years of age or older registered in 13 public PHC facilities at two districts of the city of São Paulo in 2015. Data extracted from SIAB, a primary care database, was used to calculate age and sex directly standardized prevalences for diabetes and hypertension for each PHC facility. The prevalence of hypertension among women was significantly higher than the prevalence among men in the entire study population, and in every PHC facility. There was great variation among PHC facilities that was more pronounced among women. The prevalence of diabetes among women was significantly higher than the prevalence among men in the entire study population, and in every PHC facility, but there was little variation among PHC facilities.

CONCLUSIONS

This study provided information that could help with policy planning and allocation of resources, and demonstrated the use of PHC routinely-collected data to generate important insights that if replicated could have a substantial impact given the broad coverage of the national public PHC program in Brazil.

Role of breast vascular calcification in predicting cardiovascular risk

We identified a positive association between presence of breast vascular calcification and high coronary calcium score, and thus with high cardiovascular risk.

The Global Burden of Cardiovascular Disease in Women

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of mortality worldwide, accounting for one third of all deaths in 2015. Alarmingly, there has been slowing of the decline in age-standardized CVD mortality over the last 5 years compared to the previous 25 years.

RECENT FINDINGS

Given the increasing global CVD burden, in 2011, the United Nations declared the goal to reduce premature mortality from the four main non-communicable diseases by 25% from 2010 to 2025, abbreviated as the 25 × 25 goal. The United Nations has further created nine targets to achieve the 25 × 25 goal. These targets emphasize risk factor modification and strengthening of healthcare delivery systems. Achieving the nine targets and 25 × 25 goal set by the United Nations will undoubtedly benefit the world as a whole. However, women face additional, unacceptable, disproportionate CVD risk factors that need to be addressed, including psychological stressors contributing to ischemic heart disease, pregnancy-related CVD, environmental and infectious exposures in low socioeconomic settings, and limited healthcare access and delivery. This paper highlights global CVD gender disparities in order to stimulate awareness and discussion of potential interventions to address the rapidly growing burden of heart disease in women.