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Longer living women still afflicted by CVD

BY JULIE SEAMER
 MONDAY, JANUARY 14, 2008

It is a well-known fact that statistically, women outlive men. While not being morbid, it is insightful to uncover the reasons why women do eventually pass away, in the aim of preventing death by disease and gaining optimal longevity.

Breast cancer research receives warranted investment and attention, however heart disease is actually more threatening to women. Globally a woman's risk of developing breast cancer is 1 in 9, and the risk of dying form it is 1 in 29. 1. Yet a woman's risk of dying from cardiovascular disease (CVD) is much higher – 1 in 2.4.

While CVD has long been regarded as primarily a male problem, this isn't exactly the case. It is true that heart disease, including angina has a higher prevalence in men than women. Nevertheless, if considering all the conditions that fit under the heading of CVD, the figures report a higher prevalence in women up to the age of 75, in Australia, comparative to men 2. Although men are more likely to have a coronary event than their female counterparts, women are not only less likely to survive a heart attack, but more likely to have a second one 3.

Given CVD costs Australia around $14 billion per year, prevention should be as much a focus for scientific effort and health resources, as treatment. This includes lifestyle interventions which should need to be encouraged and applied for our ageing population.

What helps prevent CVD?

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