Since 1984, the CVD-related death rate has been higher overall among women than among men because the decline in mens CVD death rates that began in the mid 1980s has not been matched by a decline in womens CVD mortality rates.1 Several factors probably contribute to this disparity, including
Less awareness of womens risk for CVD2
The increase in womens life expectancy, so that more women reach an age at which serious CVD-related events occur at a high frequency3
The decreased CVD death rate among men may to some extent reflect increasing use of lipid-modifying therapy during this period, and greater use by men than by women.4
1. American Heart Association. Statistical fact sheets. Women and cardiovascular diseasesstatistics. Dallas, Tex: American Heart Association; 2005.
2. Mosca L, Jones WK, King KB, Ouyang P, Redberg RF, Hill MN. Awareness, perception, and knowledge of heart disease risk and prevention among women in the United States. American Heart Association Women's Heart Disease and Stroke Campaign Task Force. Arch Fam Med. 2000;9:506-515.
3. Arias E. United States life tables, 2002. Natl Vital Stat Rep. 2004;53(6):1-38.
4. Franco S. Statin drug use: age and gender differences. Presented at the 132nd Annual Meeting of the American Public Health Association; November 10, 2004; Washington, DC. Abstract available at: http://apha.confex.com/apha/132am/techprogram/paper_81482.htm. Accessed September 21, 2005.