A new study has found that lifestyle and health factors linked to heart disease have a greater impact on cardiovascular risk in women compared to men. This groundbreaking research, presented at the American College of Cardiology’s Annual Scientific Session, suggests that the influence of these factors on heart health may be stronger for women. The study emphasizes the importance of tailored risk assessments and heart-healthy habits for women.
Key Findings of the Study
The study explored eight major factors associated with heart disease: diet, sleep, physical activity, smoking, body mass index (BMI), blood glucose, lipids (cholesterol), and blood pressure. While these factors have long been known to influence heart health, this study marks the first time researchers have found that these correlations are significantly stronger in women than men.
Lead author Dr. Maneesh Sud, an assistant professor at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in Toronto, explained, “For the same level of health, our study shows that the increase in risk [related to each factor] is higher in women than in men. It’s not one-size-fits-all.” This new perspective challenges previous understandings of how heart disease risk factors affect men and women, urging for sex-specific screening and prevention strategies.
Women Experience Greater Cardiovascular Risk from Negative Health Factors
The research revealed that women tend to have better overall health compared to men. They were more likely to have positive lifestyle factors, such as a healthier diet and better blood pressure levels. However, when women had more negative health factors, such as poor diet or higher blood pressure, their risk for heart disease increased more sharply than men with similar risk profiles.
Dr. Sud added, “The combination of these factors has a bigger impact in women than it does in men.” While women generally showed fewer negative health factors, those who did face these challenges were at a heightened risk for serious cardiovascular outcomes, including heart attacks, strokes, and other related conditions.
Study Methodology and Data Analysis
Researchers analyzed data from over 175,000 adults enrolled in the Ontario Health Study between 2009 and 2017. None of the participants had heart disease at the start of the study, and about 60% of the participants were women. Each participant’s health was assessed based on the eight factors mentioned earlier. These factors were categorized as ideal, intermediate, or poor based on their health status.
Over a median follow-up period of 11 years, researchers tracked various heart disease outcomes, including heart attacks, strokes, unstable angina (chest pain due to restricted blood flow), heart failure, and cardiovascular death, among other complications.
Risk Factors and Gender Differences
The study found significant gender differences in the distribution of health scores. A larger proportion of women were categorized as having ideal health, with 9.1% of women and only 4.8% of men achieving a perfect score in all eight risk factors. Conversely, more men fell into the poor health category, with 30.5% of men classified as having poor health compared to just 21.9% of women.
When it came to individual health factors, women were more likely to have ideal cholesterol levels, blood glucose, and blood pressure. However, they were slightly less likely than men to meet recommended physical activity levels.
The Impact of Poor Health on Heart Disease Risk
After adjusting for age, the study found that both men and women with poor or intermediate health faced an increased risk of heart disease compared to those with ideal health. However, the differences were more pronounced in women.
For women with poor health, the risk of heart disease was nearly five times higher than for women with ideal health. In contrast, men with poor health had 2.5 times the risk of heart disease compared to their peers with ideal health. Similarly, women with intermediate health had 2.3 times the risk of heart disease, while men with intermediate health had 1.6 times the risk.
Why This Study Matters
This study highlights the importance of considering gender when assessing cardiovascular risk. The findings suggest that women may need more personalized risk assessments and targeted interventions to prevent heart disease. Women may not always exhibit the same symptoms or warning signs as men, and lifestyle factors could be influencing their heart health more than previously understood.
As heart disease remains the leading cause of death for both men and women, these findings underscore the need for more inclusive research that addresses gender-specific health risks. This could help healthcare providers develop more effective prevention and treatment plans for women, ultimately reducing the burden of heart disease.
Moving Forward: Tailored Prevention Strategies
Experts are calling for more comprehensive and sex-specific approaches to cardiovascular risk assessment. As Dr. Sud explained, “Tailoring heart disease prevention to individual risk factors could lead to better outcomes for both men and women.” Lifestyle modifications, including improving diet, increasing physical activity, managing blood pressure, and avoiding smoking, remain key to preventing heart disease. However, for women, these efforts may need to be more carefully monitored and adjusted based on individual risk profiles.
This study is a reminder that when it comes to heart health, one size does not fit all. Women may face unique challenges, but with the right interventions, these risks can be minimized.
Source : daljoog news
