Review of Cardiovascular Disease in Women: Awareness, Prevention, and Psychosocial Characteristics

In the United States, cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death in postmenopausal women. Despite these alarming trends in the prevalence, the magnitude of the problem is still underappreciated. Women traditionally have been underrepresented in clinical trials with poor enrollment, and information for prevention and treatment of coronary heart disease (CHD) is extrapolated from populations of men. In addition to biologic risk factors for CHD, psychosocial risk factors have also been studied more in men than women. Both traditional coronary and psychosocial risk factors are reviewed as to how they uniquely affect women. A comprehensive approach, encompassing life-style changes, coping strategies and pharmacologic interventions for both prevention and treatment of CHD in women is emphasized.