A new study published in European Heart Journal—Cardiovascular Imaging has outlined heart attack risks for women. The study included 24,950 patients enrolled in the CONFIRM registry and had coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) used to obtain 3D images of the arteries in the heart. The participants were from six countries in North America, Europe, and Asia. Participants included women and men and were followed for an average of 3.7 years. All results were adjusted for age and cardiovascular risk factors, including hypertension, high cholesterol, diabetes, smoking, and family history of coronary artery disease.
It was found that women were at an elevated risk compared to men for heart attacks. This was especially observed in postmenopausal women. Researchers believe it may be partly because the inner diameter of the coronary arteries is smaller in women.
Study author Dr. Sophie van Rosendael said, “The results confirm the previously reported delay in the start of atherosclerosis in women. We also found that women are more likely to have non-obstructive disease. It was formerly thought that only obstructive atherosclerosis caused myocardial infarction , but we now know that non-obstructive disease is also risky.”
Atherosclerosis, a buildup of plaque in the arteries, can cause the blood vessels to become narrow, leading to heart attacks and strokes. While it is possible for young women to have heart attacks as a result of atherosclerosis, research indicates that women generally develop the condition later in life than men. In addition, women tend to have heart attacks at an older age than men due in part to the protective effect of estrogen.
Researchers suggest that after menopause, women may need a higher dose of statins or another lipid-lowering drug.
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