Poor cardiovascular health status among Chinese women

Tao Han ,Qian Lin,Yuqi Liu ,Wei Dong,Juying Qian ,Meixiang Xiang ,Jing Wang,Feng Tian,Lin Cai,Xia Bai ,Xue-Qiao Zhao,Yuyang Liu ,Shanshan Zhou ,Jun Hou ,Huanwan Yang ,Xi Su,Dandan Li ,Jie Yang ,Yuming Li ,Yundai Chen

doi:10.1186/s12872-020-01748-y

Abstract

BackgroundSystematic investigation and analysis of cardiovascular health status (CVHS) of Chinese women is rare. This study aimed to assess CVHS and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) burden in the Chinese women physicians (CWP) and community-based non-physician cohort (NPC).MethodsIn this prospective, multicenter, observational study, CVHS using the American Heart Association (AHA) defined 7 metrics (such as smoking and fasting glucose) and ASCVD risk factors including hypertension, hyperlipidemia and type-2 diabetes were evaluated in CWP compared with NPC.ResultsOf 5832 CWP with a mean age of 44 ± 7 years, only 1.2% achieved the ideal CVHS and 90.1% showed at least 1 of the 7 AHA CVHS metrics at a poor level. Total CVHS score was significantly decreased and ASCVD risk burden was increased in postmenopausal subjects in CWP although ideal CVHS was not significantly influenced by menopause. Compared to 2596 NPC, fewer CWP had ≥ 2 risk factors (8% vs. 27%, P < 0.001); CWP scored significantly higher on healthy factors, a composite of total cholesterol, blood pressure, fasting glucose (P < 0.001), but, poorly on healthy behaviors (P < 0.001), specifically in the physical activity component; CWP also showed significantly higher levels of awareness and rates of treatment for hypertension and hyperlipidemia, but, not for type-2 diabetes.ConclusionChinese women’s cardiovascular health is far from ideal and risk intervention is sub-optimal. Women physicians had lower ASCVD burden, scored higher in healthy factors, but, took part in less physical activity than the non-physician cohort. These results call for population-specific early and improved risk intervention.

Highlights

Systematic investigation and analysis of cardiovascular health status (CVHS) of Chinese women is rare
Hyperlipidemia was more prevalent in Chinese women physicians (CWP) than non-physician cohort (NPC)
The percentage of CWP who developed ≥ 2 risk factors was lower than NPC

Summary

Introduction

Systematic investigation and analysis of cardiovascular health status (CVHS) of Chinese women is rare. This study aimed to assess CVHS and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) burden in the Chinese women physicians (CWP) and community-based non-physician cohort (NPC). With the aim for systematic investigation and analysis of cardiovascular health status of Chinese women doctors, we designed a prospective cohort study of CWP for ASCVD risk assessment and for implementation of effective risk reduction strategies to improve CVHS. CVHS and ASCVD risk burden, the modifiable risk factors, in CWP were evaluated compared to a community-based non-physician cohort (NPC). This study may improve CWP’s attention to CVD, understand their own cardiovascular health status, and provide a basis for understanding Chinese women’s CVD risk factors, incidence trends, and formulating prevention and treatment recommendations

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