In 2005, more than 36 million American women were age 55 or older. 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 any 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:
- 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 nearly 37 percent of all female deaths in the United States 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 2.7 females who die, die of heart disease, stroke and other cardiovascular disease compared with one in 30 who die of breast cancer.
- In 2005 CVD claimed the lives of 454,613 females — cancer 268,890.
- Coronary heart disease claims the lives of 213,572 females annually compared with 41,116 lives from breast cancer and 69,105 from lung cancer.
- At age 40 and older, 23 percent of women compared with 18 percent of men will die within one year after a heart attack.
- In 2004, 25 percent of nursing home residents age 65 and over had a primary diagnosis of cardiovascular disease at admission.
- Of the estimated 6.5 million stroke survivors alive today, 60 percent are women.
- Stroke is a leading cause of serious, long-term disability; 15 percent 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.
