Medicina di genere e malattie cardiovascolari: che cosa non si è fatto e che cosa si dovrebbe fare

Abstract

Although women believe that cancer is their most important health problem, around 50% of women die for a cardiovascular disease. In addition, despite a different perception, cardiovascular disease is more prevalent in women than in men. The reason for this different incidence of cardiovascular disease between women and men is caused by the fact that fertile woman is protected by estrogen against the development of cardiovascular disease. In contrast, after menopause and the consequent decrease of plasma levels of estrogen, cardiovascular risk in women drammatically increases and, as a consequence, it causes the increase of the incidence of diseases such as myocardial infarction or stroke. Unfortunately, at the present time, no sure information is available about the best practice to prevent or cure cardiovascular disease in women. Most of therapeutical strategies derive from study conducted mainly in men. Studies specifically dedicated to women are only those aimed to evaluate the effect of estrogen replacement therapy on cardiovascular events in post menopausal women and all these studies have produced negative results. The hope for the future is that the new awareness of scientific community about the relevance of cardiovascular disease in women lead to develop specific trials which might give definitive answers for a more effective therapuetic approach.