Cardiovascular Disease In Women Research Articles

Common Cardiovascular Diseases in Women.

Cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of death for women in the United States. This article encompasses the epidemiology/etiology, clinical presentation, diagnostic assessment, management, and prognosis of some common cardiovascular disorders seen in women with a special focus on pregnancy.

Heart Disease Knowledge and Awareness in African American and Hispanic Women.

Coronary heart disease (CHD) is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality among US women. Minority women have higher rates of CHD and are more likely to experience adverse outcomes. Because of racial disparities in CHD outcomes, the purpose of this study was to assess CHD knowledge and awareness in African American and Hispanic women. Using a survey research design, a convenience sample of African American and Hispanic women was surveyed in their local communities. CHD knowledge, awareness, and demographic data were collected using an online survey. The survey was administered in English and Spanish using an iPad. CHD knowledge was assessed using a 7-item survey based on the American Heart Association's Life's Simple 7 brochure. CHD awareness was assessed using a 7-item survey adapted from the American Heart Association's Survey of Women's Cardiovascular Disease Awareness. CHD knowledge was scored on a scale of 0 to 7, and awareness was assessed based on responses to each question. The data analysis consisted of cross-tabulations and multivariable repeated measures analysis. We assessed differences in CHD knowledge and awareness based on race/ethnicity. We hypothesized that there would be statistically significant differences in CHD knowledge and awareness based on specific demographic factors (eg, age, income, education, health literacy). A total of 100 African American (n=50) and Hispanic (n = 50) women participated in the study. Results revealed that CHD knowledge and awareness were limited for both groups. Seventy-three percent of participants (African American 66%; Hispanic 80%) did not know that CHD is the leading cause of death in women and 75% (African American 60%; Hispanic 90%) were moderately or not at all informed about CHD. These findings support the need for more research on innovative strategies to improve CHD knowledge and awareness, particularly in African American and Hispanic women who are at highest risk, thereby addressing racial/ethnic and gender disparities in CHD morbidity and mortality.

Risk of diabetes and cardiovascular diseases in women with vaginal bleeding before 20 gestational weeks: Danish population-based cohort study.

Women's reproductive health is associated with cardiovascular morbidity. However, an association of vaginal bleeding (VB) in pregnancy with diabetes and cardiovascular outcomes has scarcely been investigated. We conducted a population-based cohort study in Denmark (1994-2018). Using nationwide registries, among 903 327 women we identified 1 901 725 pregnancies: 39 265 ended in childbirth and were affected by VB; 1 389 285 ended in childbirth and were unaffected by VB; 333 785 ended in a termination, and 139 390 ended in a miscarriage. The outcomes were diabetes types 1 and 2, hypertension, ischaemic heart disease including myocardial infarction, atrial fibrillation or flutter, heart failure and ischaemic and haemorrhagic stroke. We computed incidence rates and hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) adjusted for age, calendar year of pregnancy end, morbidities and reproductive and socioeconomic factors, using inverse probability of treatment-weighted Cox proportional hazards regression. In analyses of VB-affected vs VB-unaffected pregnancies, aHRs were 1.15 (1.03-1.28) for diabetes type 1, 1.19 (1.13-1.26) for diabetes type 2, 1.19 (1.14-1.25) for hypertension, 1.26 (1.16-1.37) for ischaemic heart disease, 1.21 (1.03-1.42) for myocardial infarction, 1.32 (1.14-1.51) for atrial fibrillation or flutter and 1.23 (0.99-1.52) for heart failure. aHRs were 1.41 (1.26-1.57) and 1.46 (1.23-1.72) for ischaemic and haemorrhagic stroke, respectively. When contrasting VB-affected pregnancies with terminations, aHRs were up to 1.3-fold increased for diabetes and hypertension; however, when contrasting VB-affected pregnancies with miscarriages, estimates were below or close to the null value. Women's risks of diabetes and cardiovascular outcomes later in life were increased following VB-affected vs VB-unaffected pregnancy or termination, but not following VB-affected pregnancy vs miscarriage.

Microvascular dysfunction in women with a history of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy: A population-based retrospective cohort study.

To evaluate microvascular function in women with previous hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP). Retrospective population-based cohort study. Linköping, Sweden. Women aged 50-65 years, participating in the Swedish CArdioPulmonary bioImage Study (SCAPIS) at one site (Linköping) 2016-18, who underwent microcirculatory assessment (N = 1222). Forearm skin comprehensive microcirculatory assessment was performed with a PeriFlux PF6000 EPOS (Enhanced Perfusion and Oxygen Saturation) system measuring oxygen saturation and total speed resolved perfusion. Obstetric records were reviewed to identify women with previous HDP. Data on cardiovascular risk factors, comorbidities, medication, lifestyle, anthropometric data, and biochemical analyses were obtained from SCAPIS. The microcirculatory data were compared between women with and without previous HDP. Skin microcirculatory oxygen saturation and total speed resolved perfusion at baseline and post-ischaemic peak. Women with previous pre-eclampsia displayed impaired post-ischaemic peak oxygen saturation compared with women with normotensive pregnancies (88%, interquartile range [IQR] 84-89% vs 91%, IQR 87-94%, p = 0.001) 6-30 years after pregnancy. The difference remained after multivariable adjustment (β -2.69, 95% CI -4.93 to -0.45). The findings reveal microvascular dysfunction at long-term follow up in women with previous pre-eclampsia and strengthen the possible role of endothelial dysfunction as a link to the increased risk of cardiovascular disease in women with HDP.

Hypertensive pregnancy complications and maternal characteristics as predictors of cardiovascular health within ten years after delivery

ObjectiveTo identify the combination of maternal characteristics in women with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) associated with hypertensive and other cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) within ten years following delivery. The aim is to understand who should receive the most intensive primary cardiovascular disease prevention. Study designA prospective cohort study. Main outcomeThe population was the FINNPEC cohort (2008–2011), including women with (n = 1837) and without (n = 847) HDP. The main exposures were maternal hypertensive pregnancy complications linked with maternal pregnancy data from hospital records. The outcomes were hypertensive diseases and other CVDs (International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision). ResultsWomen with de novo pre-eclampsia (PE) had an elevated risk for hypertensive diseases within ten years following delivery. The risk of CVD was increased in women with superimposed PE and chronic hypertension (CHT) only. Women with de novo PE and hypertensive diseases were more often primiparous (41.4% vs. 23.0%, p = 0.020), had gestational diabetes (GDM) (31.0% vs. 11.7%, p = 0.002), and higher pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) (28.7 ± 5.8 vs. 24.6 ± 4.8 kg/m2, p = 0.001), compared with women who remained normotensive. Women with superimposed PE with CVD had more likely early-onset PE, preterm delivery and were older than women without later CVD. ConclusionsHealthcare professionals should target early prevention of CVDs in women with chronic hypertension during pregnancy; of those who developed superimposed PE prior to 34th weeks of gestation and who delivered preterm. Women with de novo PE who are overweight/obese, primiparous, and with concurrent GDM need regular blood pressure monitoring.

Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease in Women With Pregnancy-Related Risk Factors: A Prospective Women's Heart Clinic Study.

Background Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, gestational diabetes, and having a small-for-gestational-age baby are known to substantially increase a woman's risk of cardiovascular disease. Despite this, evidence for models of care that mitigate cardiovascular disease risk in women with these pregnancy-related conditions is lacking. Methods and Results A 6-month prospective cohort study assessed the effectiveness of a multidisciplinary Women's Heart Clinic on blood pressure and lipid control in women aged 30 to 55 years with a past pregnancy diagnosis of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, gestational diabetes, or a small-for-gestational age baby in Melbourne, Australia. The co-primary end points were (1) blood pressure <140/90 mm Hg or <130/80 mm Hg if diabetes and (2) total cholesterol to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio <4.5. The study recruited 156 women with a mean age of 41.0±4.2 years, 3.9±2.9 years from last delivery, 68.6% White, 20.5% South/East Asian, and 80.5% university-educated. The proportion meeting blood pressure target increased (69.2% to 80.5%, P=0.004), with no significant change in lipid targets (80.6% to 83.7%, P=0.182). Systolic blood pressure (-6.9 mm Hg [95% CI, -9.1 to -4.7], P<0.001), body mass index (-0.6 kg/m2 [95% CI, -0.8 to -0.3], P<0.001), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (-4.2 mg/dL [95% CI, -8.2 to -0.2], P=0.042), and total cholesterol (-4.6 mg/dL [95% CI, -9.1 to -0.2] P=0.042) reduced. Heart-healthy lifestyle significantly improved with increased fish/olive oil (36.5% to 51.0%, P=0.012), decreased fast food consumption (33.8% to 11.0%, P<0.001), and increased physical activity (84.0% to 92.9%, P=0.025). Conclusions Women at high risk for cardiovascular disease due to past pregnancy-related conditions experienced significant improvements in multiple cardiovascular risk factors after attending a Women's Heart Clinic, potentially improving long-term cardiovascular disease outcomes. Registration URL: https://www.anzctr.org.au; Unique identifier: ACTRN12622000646741.

Effects of Synbiotic-Containing Bacillus coagulans (GBI-30) on the Cardiovascular Status of Patients With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Triple-blinded, Randomized, Placebo-controlled Study

PurposeDespite the high risk of cardiovascular diseases in women with polycystic ovary syndrome, fewer studies have addressed the improvement of cardiometabolic status of these patients. This study was conducted with the aim of investigating the effects of synbiotic-containing, spore-forming Bacillus coagulans on cardiometabolic indicators, including lipid profile, C-reactive protein, and atherogenic indexes in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome. MethodsIn the present 12-week, triple-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial, 72 women with polycystic ovaries were randomized to receive either 2 g of synbiotic sachet (n = 36) or placebo (n = 36) plus lifestyle modification. Fasting blood samples were taken before and after the intervention. FindingsStatistical analysis was performed in 60 participants with a mean (SD) age of 28.25 (5.98) years who completed the intervention (synbiotic group [n = 34] and placebo group [n = 26]). A significant mean (SD) decrease in C-reactive protein level was observed in the synbiotic group compared with the placebo group (−0.12 [9.57] v. −0.008 [4.69], P = 0.03). No significant differences in mean changes of lipid profile and atherogenic indexes were seen between the 2 groups. Although the estimated mean changes in atherogenic indexes in the synbiotic group indicates a greater reduction than the placebo group, no significant difference was detected. ImplicationsOur 12-week synbiotic intervention improved the inflammatory status in women with polycystic ovaries without affecting lipid profile or atherogenic indexes.

Disparity in diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular disease in women: a call to joint action from the European Society of Cardiology Patient Forum.

Disparity in diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular disease in women: a call to joint action from the European Society of Cardiology Patient Forum.

Sex-specific associations of γ-glutamyltransferase to HDL-cholesterol ratio and the incident risk of cardiovascular disease: three Korean longitudinal cohorts from different regions.

The combination of gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) (GGT/HDL-C) is a novel noninsulin-based marker for assessing the risk of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus. However, whether the GGT/HDL-C ratio is related to the risk of incident cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk is not well known. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the longitudinal effect of GGT/HDL-C ratio on incident CVD risk in three large cohorts of Korean men and women. Data were assessed from 27,643 participants without CVD from the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study (KoGES), Health Risk Assessment Study (HERAS), and Korea Health Insurance Review and Assessment (HIRA) (HERAS-HIRA) datasets. The participants were divided into four groups according to the GGT/HDL-C quartiles. We prospectively assessed hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for CVD using multivariate Cox proportional-hazard regression models over a 50-month period following the baseline survey. During the follow-up period, 949 patients (3.4%; 529 men and 420 women) developed CVD. The HRs of CVD for GGT/HDL-C quartiles 2-4 were 1.36 (95% CI, 0.91-2.02), 1.54 (95% CI, 1.05-2.26), and 1.66 (95% CI, 1.12-2.47) after adjusting for metabolic parameters in women, but GGT/HDL-C did not show a trend toward increases in incident CVD in men. Regional discrepancies were evident in the results; the increase in HR in the metropolitan hospital cohort was more pronounced than that in the urban cohort, and the risk was not increased in the rural cohort. GGT/HDL-C ratio may be a useful predictive marker for CVD in women. Furthermore, the prevalence of CVD was strongly correlated with the GGT/HDL-C ratio in metropolitan areas, and this correlation was more significant than that observed with GGT or HDL-C in isolation.

Acute coronary syndrome in women. Are there any special features?

Introduction. The increasing incidence of coronary heart disease, including acute coronary syndrome, among women, the lack of public awareness of the cardiovascular risks in women and the late presentation of these patients for medical care necessitates a review of the existing literature on the problem.Purpose of the work was to systematize data on acute coronary syndrome in women and to characterize its distinctive features.Materials and methods. A literature search was conducted for the period from 2011 to 2022 in PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, Google Scholar using the search terms: cardiovascular diseases in women, ischemic heart disease in women, acute coronary syndrome in women and acute myocardial infarction in women. Inclusion criteria: evidence of sex differences in acute coronary syndrome. The preferred languages were Russian and English.Results and discussion. The risk factors of acute coronary syndrome in women are characterized and the data on the peculiarities of the clinic of this pathology are summarized. Data on the problem of a differentiated approach and on the determination of management tactics for patients with acute coronary syndrome are presented.Conclusion. Despite the increasing awareness of cardiovascular disease as a major cause of disability and mortality in both sexes, the attention of specialists to the problem of a differentiated approach to the management of women with ACS remains insufficient, which determines the need for in-depth research on this problem.

Raising awareness about cardiovascular disease in women.

Raising awareness about cardiovascular disease in women.

International Registry of Cardiovascular Diseases in Women (IROCW): Assessing the Feasibility of Large Data Registry in the Absence of Funding and Electronic Database – Initial Data From Iraq

International Registry of Cardiovascular Diseases in Women (IROCW): Assessing the Feasibility of Large Data Registry in the Absence of Funding and Electronic Database – Initial Data From Iraq

КЛИНИКО-ЛАБОРАТОРНЫЕ ХАРАКТЕРИСТИКИ ЖЕНЩИН – ПАЦИЕНТОК АМБУЛАТОРНОГО ПРИЕМА ЛИПИДОЛОГА

Introduction. Lipid metabolism disorders are one of the most important factors contributing significantly to the probability of developing cardiovascular diseases, death from coronary heart disease and mortality of the population. Aim. To identify the features of anamnestic, clinical and laboratory parameters in female patients of the lipid cabinet and to determine the frequency of detection of familial hypercholesterolemia in them. Material and methods. The study included 777 female patients of the outpatient appointment of a doctor of the lipid cabinet. The examination of patients with dyslipidemia included an examination by a cardiologist-lipidologist (with the calculation of the risk of cardiovascular complications on the Systemic COronary Risk Evaluation scale, the probability of familial hypercholesterolemia on the British Simon Broom scale and the criteria of the Dutch lipid clinics. Results and discussion. The total number of 777 patients were 63% of the total number of patients in the lipid cabinet; aged 19-90 years old, average age 58.49±9.48. The average level of total cholesterol was 7.74±1.98 mmol/l, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol 4.84±1.4 mmol/l, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol 1.46±0.44 mmol/l, triglycerides 1.61±1.42 mmol/l, non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol 6.32±1.97 mmol/l. In 23% of patients, lipid metabolism disorders are secondary. Atherosclerosis of brachiocephalic arteries was diagnosed in 68.4% of patients, hypertension was in 41.4%. 15.1% of patients were diagnosed with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Conclusions. The most significant for the development of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease in women with lipid metabolism disorders were body mass index, burdened family history, duration of menopause and level of physical activity. Smoking, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, external signs of dyslipidemia were not associated with atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases.

Addressing Cardiovascular Risk Across the Arc of a Woman's Life: Sex-Specific Prevention and Treatment.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in womenin the United States of America. Despite this, women are underdiagnosed, less often receive preventive care, and are undertreated for CVD compared to men. There has been an increase in sex-specific risk factors and treatments over the past decade; however, sex-specific recommendations have not been included in the guidelines. We aim to highlight recent evidence behind thedifferential effect of traditional risk factors and underscore sex-specific risk factors with an intention to promote awareness, improve risk stratification, and early implementation of appropriate preventive therapies in women. Women are prescribed fewer antihypertensives and lipid-lowering agents and receive less cardiovascular care as compared to men. Additionally, pregnancy complications have been associated with increased cardiovascular mortality later in life. Findings from theARIC study suggest that there is a perception of lower risk of cardiovascular disease in women. The SWEDEHEART study which investigated sex differences in treatment, noted a lower prescription of guideline-directed therapy in women. Women are less likely to be prescribed statin medications by their providers in both primary and secondary prevention as they are considered lower risk than men, while also being more likely to decline and discontinue treatment. A woman's abnormal response to pregnancy may serve as her first physiological stress test which can have implications on her future cardiovascular health. This was supported by the CHAMPs study noting a higher premature cardiovascular risk after maternal complications. Adverse pregnancy outcomes have been associated with a 1.5-4.0 fold increase in future cardiovascular events in multiple studies. In this review, we highlight the differences in traditional risk factors and their impact on women. Furthermore, we address the sex-specific risk factors and pregnancy-associated complications that increase the risk of CVD in women. Adherence to GDMT may have implications on overall mortality in women. An effort to improve early recognition of CVD risk with implementation of aggressive risk factor control and lifestyle modification should be emphasized. Future studies should specifically report on differences in outcomes between males and females. Increased awareness and knowledge on sex-specific risks and prevention are likely to lower the prevalence and improve outcomes of CVD in women.

Adherence to healthy diet and risk of cardiovascular disease in adult survivors of childhood cancer in the St. Jude Lifetime Cohort: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundWhether diet has beneficial effects on cardiovascular disease (CVD) in childhood cancer survivors as in the general population is unknown. Therefore, we examined associations between dietary patterns and risk of CVD in adult survivors of childhood cancer.MethodsChildhood cancer survivors, 18–65 years old in the St Jude Lifetime Cohort (1882 men and 1634 women) were included in the analysis. Dietary patterns were defined by the adherence to the Healthy Eating Index (HEI)–2015, Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH), and alternate Mediterranean diet (aMED) based on a food frequency questionnaire at study entry. CVD cases (323 in men and 213 in women) were defined as participants with at least one grade 2 or higher CVD-related diagnosis at baseline. Multivariable logistic regression adjusted for confounders was used to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of CVD.ResultsGreater adherence to HEI-2015 (OR=0.88, 95% CI: 0.75–1.03, per 10 score increment), DASH (OR=0.85, 95% CI: 0.71–1.01, per 10 score increment), and aMED (OR=0.92, 95% CI: 0.84–1.00, each score increment) were, albeit trending towards significance, associated with a lower risk of CVD in women. HEI-2015 was associated with a non-significantly lower risk of CVD in men (ORQ5 vs. Q1=0.80, 95% CI: 0.50–1.28). These dietary patterns were also associated with a lower risk of CVD in survivors with high underlying CVD risk.ConclusionsAs recommended to the general population, a diet rich in plant foods and moderate in animal foods needs to be a part of CVD management and prevention in childhood cancer survivors.

Association Between Physical Activity and Risk of Incident Cardiovascular Disease in Women With Early Menopause: Evidence From the UK Biobank Cohort

Association Between Physical Activity and Risk of Incident Cardiovascular Disease in Women With Early Menopause: Evidence From the UK Biobank Cohort

Women’s Heart Clinics to Prevent Cardiovascular Disease in Women With Pregnancy-related Risk Factors: A Prospective Study

Women’s Heart Clinics to Prevent Cardiovascular Disease in Women With Pregnancy-related Risk Factors: A Prospective Study

A Woman's Heart: Improving Uptake and Awareness of Cardiovascular Screening for Middle-Aged Populations.

Mid-life, the years leading up to and following the menopause transition, in women is accompanied by a change in cardiometabolic risk factors, including increases in body weight, changes in body composition, a more insulin-resistant state, and a shift towards a more atherogenic dyslipidemia pattern. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk assessment should be performed continually throughout the lifespan, as risk is not stagnant and can change throughout the life course. However, mid-life is a particularly important time for a woman to be evaluated for CVD risk so that appropriate preventive strategies can be implemented. Along with assessing traditional risk factors, ascertainment of a reproductive history is an integral part of a comprehensive CVD risk assessment to recognize unique female-specific or female-predominant factors that modify a woman's risk. When there is uncertainty about CVD risk and the net benefit of preventive pharmacotherapy interventions (such as statins), measuring a coronary artery calcium score can help further refine risk and guide shared decision-making. Additionally, there should be heightened sensitivity around identifying signs and symptoms of ischemic heart disease in women, as these may present differently than in men. Ischemia from coronary microvascular disease and/or vasospasm may be present even without obstructive coronary artery disease and is associated with a heightened risk for major cardiovascular events and reduced quality of life. Therefore, correctly identifying CVD in women and implementing preventive and treatment therapies is paramount. Unfortunately, women are underrepresented in cardiovascular clinical trials, and more data are needed about how to best incorporate novel and emerging risk factors into CVD risk assessment. This review outlines an approach to CVD screening and risk assessment in women using several methods, focusing on the middle-aged population.

Long-Term Impacts of Preeclampsia on the Cardiovascular System of Mother and Offspring.

Preeclampsia is a pregnancy-specific complication that is associated with an increased postpartum risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in both women and their offspring, although the underlying mechanisms have yet to be fully elucidated. Nevertheless, differential methylation of cytosine-phosphate-guanosine islands and alterations in the expression of microRNA, associated with an elevated risk of CVD, have been observed in women and their children following preeclampsia. Among this specific population, genetic and epigenetic factors play crucial roles in the development of CVD in later life. A series of biomolecules involved in inflammation, oxidative stress, and angiogenesis may link pregnancy vascular bed disorders in preeclampsia to the pathogenesis of future CVD and thus could be valuable for the prediction and intervention of long-term CVD in women with a history of preeclampsia and their offspring. Here, we present insights into the cardiovascular structure and functional changes of women with a history of preeclampsia and their offspring. With a focus on various underlying mechanisms, the conclusions from this review are expected to provide more potential diagnostics and treatment strategies for clinical practice.

Incidental Breast Arterial Calcifications and Assessment of Coronary Artery Disease Risk: A Review and Recommendation.

Coronary artery disease (CAD) continues to be the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in women, contributing to about 20%, or nearly 400,000, of female deaths annually in the United States. Despite their significant burden from CAD, women have been traditionally underrepresented in trials, and therefore, there is still much to be studied regarding the sex-based variations that have been reported regarding the pathophysiology, clinical presentation, efficacy of diagnostic workup, and response to therapy in CAD. Previous studies have reported that breast arterial calcifications, commonly found incidentally on screening mammography, may be associated with risk of CAD; however, there are currently no specific guidelines concerning reporting and quantification practices, as well as further workup recommendations for patients who are found to have vascular calcifications. Thus, the question remains whether breast arterial calcifications can serve as a sex-specific marker for CAD, and whether there is enough evidence to support the use of mammography as a screening tool for CAD in women. In this review, we will summarize the current understanding of cardiovascular disease in women, the existing literature regarding breast arterial calcifications and current reporting practices, and the association of vascular calcifications with CAD risk; based on the collected evidence, we will make a recommendation whether screening mammography and breast arterial calcifications should be used to assess CAD risk, and if so, what additional workup, if any, we recommend in women found to have breast arterial calcifications on imaging.