Primary prevention of cardiovascular disease in women requires that clinicians consider aspects that are unique to women, according to a state-of-the-art review published May 18 in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

Led by Leslie Cho, MD, FACC, et al., the ACC CVD in Women Committee reviewed recent guidelines and major studies to summarize recommendations specific to women, specifically addressing risk factors and treatments that have led to controversies and confusion. The review highlights sex-related factors, hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, anticoagulation for atrial fibrillation, use of aspirin, perimenopausal hormone therapy and psychosocial issues. The document does not address nutrition, diet, exercise, smoking cessation or sudden cardiac death.

According to the review, cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in women. The authors review unique risk factors for cardiovascular disease among women, including pregnancy-associated conditions and polycystic ovarian syndrome, as well as sex differences in response to risk factors and treatments.

"Women have different manifestations" of cardiovascular disease that clinicians should consider when treating women, the authors write. "Knowledge of updated guideline recommendations are critical in shared decision-making plans to treat women and men to improve [cardiovascular disease] outcomes," they conclude.

Clinical Topics: Arrhythmias and Clinical EP, Dyslipidemia, Prevention, SCD/Ventricular Arrhythmias, Atrial Fibrillation/Supraventricular Arrhythmias, Hypertension

Keywords: Pregnancy, Risk Factors, Cardiovascular Diseases, Hyperlipidemias, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, Atrial Fibrillation, Aspirin, Smoking Cessation, Decision Making, Perimenopause, Primary Prevention, Hypertension, Diabetes Mellitus, Death, Sudden, Cardiac, Cardiology

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