Results:

Overall, 45% of all women surveyed reported being unaware that CVD was the leading cause of death for women. Only 11% knew of a woman who had died due to CVD. Approximately 71% of women did not mention heart health during a visit with a physician. The majority of women did not know that risk factors including diabetes, autoimmune disease, pregnancy complications, or early menopause were associated with an increased risk for heart disease. A majority also did not know the common symptoms of a heart attack. More than one half of women reported canceling or postponing a physician appointment until they had lost weight. For physicians, only 39% reported that CVD was a top concern for women’s health; this was a lower concern for physicians than weight or breast health. Only a minority of physicians (22% of primary care physicians and 42% of cardiologists) felt well prepared to assess women’s CVD risk. Most reported infrequently using guidelines. Only 16% of primary care physicians and 22% of cardiologists reported implementing all eight of the American Heart Association guidelines for CVD risk assessment in women, including taking a history of pregnancy-related conditions.