Gender Issues in CVD Flashcards
What are some “cultural” trends that may account for increased CV mortality in women?
Women with MI symptoms wait longer to seek medical attention.
Risk factors not managed as well.
Time to diagnosis is longer.
Tends to affect older, low SES women.
How does CAD present differently in angiography in men vs. women?
Women’s atherosclerotic plaques tend to have “positive remodeling” i.e. the lumen diameter doesn’t decrease, making CAD not show up as well on angiography.
Age distribution of CVD in women?
Really mostly over age 65.
Might be due to protective effects of estrogen?
3 positive effects of estrogen on CV risk factors?
Decreases LDL / increases HDL.
Facilitates NO-mediated vasodilation.
Inhibits inflammatory responses in endothelium.
3 negative effects of estrogen on CV risk factors?
Increased TGs.
Increased inflammatory markers, such as CRP.
Increased risk of thrombosis.
Is hormone replacement therapy definitively shown to decrease CV risk?
Nope… ambiguous effects. But it definitely increases reproductive cancer risk.
How might estrogen increase the risk of plaque rupture?
By upregulating matrix metalloproteases, thinning the fibrous cap.
Do women really less frequently present with chest pain when having an MI?
No, that’s not really true. But they do present more frequently vs. men with extra non-specific symptoms (e.g. epigastric pain).
Is stress testing less sensitive in women vs. men?
Yes. (70 vs. 77%… that doesn’t seem that huge… but I guess at the population level…)
This is probably related to the fact that women tend to have less coronary occlusion before plaque rupture.
Solution - use more imaging, such as echo, for screening women.
How does the total plasma volume change in pregnancy?
How does this compare with the increase in RBC volume?
They both increase enormously, but the RBCs not as much. Relative anemia is normal during pregnancy.
How do CO, SV, HR, and total PVR change in pregnancy?
CO (+40%), SV (+30%), and HR (+10%) increase. TPVR decreases (-30%)
Why is aortic stenosis during pregnancy very bad?
The CO really needs to be increased, and in AS, it can’t be.
What happens to venous return right after delivery?
It is massively increased, which can lead to frank pulmonary edema if the heart can’t handle it.
What is biggest cause of maternal mortality in the US?
Most common causes of this condition in women of childbearing age?
Pulmonary hypertension.
Most commonly due to left->right shunts: VSD, patent ductus arteriosis (PDA), and atrial septal defect (ASD).
Recommendation for women of childbearing age with severe pulmonary hypertension?
Tubal ligation, and termination of pregnancy if it occurs.