CVD in Women

Question 1

what is the number 1 killer of women

Answer 1

*heart disease
*responsible for 1 in every 5 female deaths

Question 2

women’s atypical presentation of CAD - in the weeks before heart attack

Answer 2

*unusual fatigue
*sleep disturbance
*shortness of breath
*indigestion
*chest pain

Question 3

women’s atypical presentation of CAD - at the time of heart attack

Answer 3

*shortness of breath
*weakness
*fatigue
*chest pain

Question 4

diabetes as a risk factor for CAD in women

Answer 4

*women with T2DM have a HIGHER adjusted hazard ratio of fatal CAD compared to men with T2DM
*relative risk of CVD in women with DM is 44% greater than men with DM

Question 5

women can reduce their risk of coronary events by > 80% by:

Answer 5

1. not smoking
2. maintaining healthy body weight
3. healthy diet
4. moderate to vigorous exercise 30 minutes per day

Question 6

emerging, non-traditional risk factors for ASCVD in women

Answer 6

*preterm delivery (<37 weeks)
*hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (pre-eclampsia)
*gestational diabetes
*autoimmune disease
*breast cancer treatment
*depression

Question 7

menopause & CVD

Answer 7

*premenopausal women are relatively protected against CVD compared to age-matched men
*post-menopause, there is a significantly increased risk of developing CVD

Question 8

breast cancer treatment as a risk factor for CAD

Answer 8

*radiotherapy for breast cancer often involves incidental exposure of the heart, increasing rate of CAD (increase proportional to mean dose)
*incidence varies depending whether the breast cancer is left vs. right
*chemotherapy (esp. doxorubicin and other anthracycline-like agents) can also increase risk of cardiotoxicity

Question 9

autoimmune diseases as a risk factor for CAD

Answer 9

*association between inflammatory diseases and increased mortality
*systemic autoimmune disorders such as SLE and rheumatoid arthritis have increased risks for MI and stroke

Question 10

spontaneous coronary artery dissection

Answer 10

*marked by a tear in the intima, with blood separating out the intima from the media
*true and false lumen
*most common associated conditions are fibromuscular dysplasia & pregnancy

Question 11

risks of spontaneous coronary artery dissection related to pregnancy

Answer 11

*tends to occur in 3rd trimester or early post-partum
*future pregnancy is NOT recommended after spontaneous coronary artery dissection