Sex-specific risk factors for cardiovascular disease in women-making cardiovascular disease real.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Sex-specific differences in pathophysiology, prevalence, and impact of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors may explain the high cardiovascular mortality rates in women.

RECENT FINDINGS

We review the sex differences in traditional risk factors (dyslipidemia, hypertension, diabetes, and smoking) and nontraditional risk factors (menopause and hormones, pregnancy, inflammation and autoimmune diseases, anemia, depression, and migraines) and their prognostic and therapeutic implications.

SUMMARY

Recent research indicates that with respect to traditional risk factors such as dyslipidemia, hypertension, diabetes, and smoking, women appear to have a similar risk of CVD when compared to men. The risk is accelerated after menopause, possibly because of vascular and lipid profile changes. Pregnancy offers a unique opportunity and window to screen otherwise healthy women who may be at an increased risk of CVD in the future. Clinicians should be aware of other novel risk factors including inflammation, anemia, migraines, and depression, and further studies are warranted in order to identify therapeutic implications for these conditions and CVD risk.