Mulvagh SL, Mullen KA, Nerenberg KA, Kirkham AA, Green CR, Dhukai AR, Grewal J, Hardy M, Harvey PJ, Ahmed SB, Hart D, Levinsson AL, Parry M, Foulds HJ, Pacheco C, Dumanski SM, Smith G, Norris CM. The Canadian Women’s Heart Health Alliance Atlas on the Epidemiology, Diagnosis, and Management of Cardiovascular Disease in Women — Chapter 4: Sex- and Gender-Unique Disparities: CVD Across the Lifespan of a Woman.
CJC Open 2021;
4:115-132. [PMID:
35198930 PMCID:
PMC8843896 DOI:
10.1016/j.cjco.2021.09.013]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2021] [Accepted: 09/13/2021] [Indexed: 02/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Women have unique sex- and gender-related risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD) that can present or evolve over their lifespan. Pregnancy-associated conditions, polycystic ovarian syndrome, and menopause can increase a woman’s risk of CVD. Women are at greater risk for autoimmune rheumatic disorders, which play a role in the predisposition and pathogenesis of CVD. The influence of traditional CVD risk factors (eg, smoking, hypertension, diabetes, obesity, physical inactivity, depression, anxiety, and family history) is greater in women than men. Finally, there are sex differences in the response to treatments for CVD risk and comorbid disease processes. In this Atlas chapter we review sex- and gender-unique CVD risk factors that can occur across a woman’s lifespan, with the aim to reduce knowledge gaps and guide the development of optimal strategies for awareness and treatment.
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