Women in the UK, and elsewhere, are still missing out on vital treatment for their No. 1 killer-;cardiovascular disease-;despite significant progress in the medical management of heart disease and stroke, concludes a consensus statement published online in the journal Heart . They continue to be underdiagnosed, undertreated, and underrepresented in clinical trials in all areas of cardiovascular disease, says the statement.
Among other things, it calls for dedicated women's heart champions and heart hubs, plus a women's health strategy, to stop the needless death toll from what is essentially, preventable disease. The consensus statement was drawn up by representatives from UK cardiovascular, nursing, and patient bodies affiliated with the British Cardiovascular Society, with the aim of addressing unmet needs, ensuring parity of care, and improving the health outcomes of women with cardiovascular disease in the UK, and worldwide. Conventional cardiovascular disease risk factors, such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol, are often not treated as promptly or as appropriately as they are in men, despite accounting for around half of all preventable cardiovascular disease deaths, says the statement.
And women face particular cultural, societal, and financial issues, which magnify their heart disease risks, as well as enduring the influence of hormones, pregnancy, and the menopause, across their lifespan, notes the Statement. And their biology, physiology, and body shape no.