Gender Issues in CVD Flashcards

0
Q

What are some “cultural” trends that may account for increased CV mortality in women?

A

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 well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
1
Q

How does CAD present differently in angiography in men vs. women?

A

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.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Age distribution of CVD in women?

A

Really mostly over age 65.

Might be due to protective effects of estrogen?

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

3 positive effects of estrogen on CV risk factors?

A

Decreases LDL / increases HDL.
Facilitates NO-mediated vasodilation.
Inhibits inflammatory responses in endothelium.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

3 negative effects of estrogen on CV risk factors?

A

Increased TGs.
Increased inflammatory markers, such as CRP.
Increased risk of thrombosis.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Is hormone replacement therapy definitively shown to decrease CV risk?

A

Nope… ambiguous effects. But it definitely increases reproductive cancer risk.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

How might estrogen increase the risk of plaque rupture?

A

By upregulating matrix metalloproteases, thinning the fibrous cap.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Do women really less frequently present with chest pain when having an MI?

A

No, that’s not really true. But they do present more frequently vs. men with extra non-specific symptoms (e.g. epigastric pain).

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Is stress testing less sensitive in women vs. men?

A

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 well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

How does the total plasma volume change in pregnancy?

How does this compare with the increase in RBC volume?

A

They both increase enormously, but the RBCs not as much. Relative anemia is normal during pregnancy.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

How do CO, SV, HR, and total PVR change in pregnancy?

A
CO (+40%), SV (+30%), and HR (+10%) increase.
TPVR decreases (-30%)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Why is aortic stenosis during pregnancy very bad?

A

The CO really needs to be increased, and in AS, it can’t be.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What happens to venous return right after delivery?

A

It is massively increased, which can lead to frank pulmonary edema if the heart can’t handle it.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What is biggest cause of maternal mortality in the US?

Most common causes of this condition in women of childbearing age?

A

Pulmonary hypertension.

Most commonly due to left->right shunts: VSD, patent ductus arteriosis (PDA), and atrial septal defect (ASD).

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Recommendation for women of childbearing age with severe pulmonary hypertension?

A

Tubal ligation, and termination of pregnancy if it occurs.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What arrhythmia can further reduce CO in mitral stenosis?

A

A fib, precipitated by the enlarged atrium.

16
Q

2 ways that pregnancy makes mitral stenosis worse?

A

Increased HR -> further decreased diastolic filling.

Increased preload -> further dilation of LA -> contractile dysfunction and risk of A Fib.

17
Q

Management of mitral stenosis in pregnancy?

A

Beta blockers, “judicious” use of diuretics, and if severe, percutaneous balloon dilation (valvuloplasty) of the mitral valve.

18
Q

Are aortic and mitral regurgitation significant problems during pregnancy?

A

Not really.
One could imagine that the drop in PVR might actually might be beneficial for the AR.
MR can be a problem if severe and complicated by A Fib, PHTN.

19
Q

Review: Pros and cons of mechanical vs. bioprosthetic aortic valve replacement?

A

Mechanical: must be on warfarin, but they last a long time.
Bioprosthetic: must replaced in about 10 years, but don’t need anticoagulation.
In a women who wants to have children… this is a tough call.

20
Q

What do you do if a woman with a mechanical valve gets pregnant?

A

Taper of the warfarin, switch to subQ heparin injections, at least for first 13-14 weeks. (there is debate whether or not warfarin should be restarted then)
Heparin does not cross the placenta, and is not associated with fetal loss.
(Taking warfarin while pregnant -> 6% chance of fetal loss.)

21
Q

Dilated cardiomyopathy in pregnancy….

A

it happens sometimes, increased with pre-eclampsia, multiparity, African-American ethnicity, older age. It reverses itself 50% of the time.
Note that women can’t take ACE-inhibitors /ARBs to help prevent remodeling.