ISCHEMIC HEART DISEASE IN WOMEN­ ARE THERE SEX DIFFERENCES

Despite the decline in lschemic Heart Disease (IHO) mortality in both women and men. women remain the majority who die from cardiovascular disease (CVD), with an estimated 515.000 women each year diagnosed with coronary heart disease (CHD).   While we all believe in black holes and gravitational waves in space, which we cannot see.  We are reluctant to make faster progress in the development of better tools to assess functional CAD in the coronary (micro) circulation, which we cannot visualize with an Angiogram.  The topic of IHD in women in both acute and chronic settings leads to misdiagnosis and often mistreatment. Given the lower burden of Obstructive Coronary Heart Disease (CAD) and preserved systolic function in women. IHD is more specific to women rather than CHD or CAD.  This emphasizes the diagnostic conundrum in confronting the spectrum of possible IHD etiologies in women with chest pain. To improve the diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up in female populations sex-specific biomarker thresholds and risk stratification tools are needed.

Is the Pathophysiology of lschemic Heart disease different in women than in men?

This is a fundamental question that has to be answered because if pathophysiology differs in women, such differences can inform strategies for prevention, detection, and treatment that would be most effective for women.  Coronary microvascular disease, in particular, is put forward as a major etiologic factor for lschemic Heart disease in women and disability in women (microvascular angina)

Risk factors (Sex difference)

Evolving knowledge regarding sex-differences in Coronary Heart disease is emerging. Among clinical cohorts. sex differences are observed which states that Women had a higher prevalence of traditional risk factors for CAD such as cerebrovascular and peripheral vascular disease, sedentary lifestyle and family history of premature CAD.  Clustering of risk factors is common after menopause, notably the combination of obesity, hypertension and dyslipidemia, a phenomenon potentially related to hormonally-mediated metabolic disturbances.  Hypertriglyceridemia is a more potent independent risk factor for women as compared with men. Diabetic women have significantly greater rates of IHD mortality compared with diabetic men and an elevated 3.3-fold IHD risk compared with non-diabetic women.  Non-traditional risk factors for IHD in women include gestational diabetes, insulin resistance, polycystic ovarian disease, pregnancy induced hypertension and autoimmune disease (systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis). Framingham Offspring study states that women with SLE between ages 34 and 44 years were 50 times more likely to have an acute Ml than women without SLE. Mental stress has adverse prognostic implications and is increasingly recognized as a modifiable non­traditional CVD risk factor in women. Women are nine times more likely to get Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy (TTC), a life threatening condition often brought on by stressful situations that can cause severe, but usually temporary heart muscle failure. This occurs most commonly in postmenopausal women.

Need of the Hour

IHD is a significant contributor to morbidity and mortality in women.

Traditional Framingham risk factors viz hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes.  Smoking as well as lifestyle habits are all modifiable. By maintaining a healthy weight, exercising regularly, avoiding saturated or Trans fats, sugars and high amounts of salt, women can reduce their risk of heart disease.  The American Heart Association recommends focusing on heart disease prevention by assessing risk factors and work to keep them low. The sooner you identify and manage your risk factors, the better your chances of leading a heart - healthy life. 

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