Heart disease: women significantly underestimate risk
23 February 2010
Many women remain unaware that cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death among females, research reveals (Circ Cardiovasc Qual Outcomes 2010; in press).
A US survey of 2300 women found that although more women were aware that CVD was their leading cause of death than in the previous survey in 1997, almost half were not. And there were substantial misconceptions about what to take or what to do in an emergency.
A substantial percentage of respondents also subscribed to unproven and ineffective preventive therapies, such as antioxidants, multivitamins and special vitamins (such as vitamin C), in the belief they were protective against heart disease.
“This is a concern because recent randomised clinical trials showed no benefit of antioxidant vitamins in women,” the authors said.
Only half the women said they would call an ambulance if they thought they were having signs of a heart attack, and 23 per cent said they would take an aspirin in such a situation.
Associate Professor Anushka Patel, director if the cardiovascular division at the George Institute for International Health in Sydney, said the findings were “disturbing”, and would be similar in Australia.
“Even among health professionals there is a gap in knowledge about cardiovascular disease being important in women,” she said, calling for renewed public and clinician education programmes.
Almost all the women surveyed favoured environmental approaches, such as increasing access to healthy foods, recreational facilities and nutrition labelling, as helpful approaches to lowering CVD risk.
“More emphasis should be placed on raising awareness of the symptoms of heart disease and informing women of the importance of calling [an ambulance],” the authors said.
Last Reviewed: 23 February 2010
- 1. Mosca L, Mochari-Greenberger H, Dolor RJ, Newby LK, Robb KJ. Twelve-Year Follow-Up of American Women's Awareness of Cardiovascular Disease Risk and Barriers to Heart Health. Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes 2010. Published online before print February 10, 2010. Available at: http://circoutcomes.ahajournals.org/cgi/rapidpdf/CIRCOUTCOMES.109.915538v1.pdf
