In a groundbreaking study conducted by researchers at Intermountain Health, significant strides have been made in closing the gender gap in heart disease outcomes. This research reveals that while heart disease remains a leading cause of mortality among women—affecting approximately 45% of women over the age of 20—the disparity in cardiac events between genders is starting to diminish.

Kismet Rasmusson, a leading nurse practitioner and principal investigator at Intermountain Health, emphasizes, “The reality is that women are different from men and need to be evaluated, diagnosed, and treated differently for heart disease. While these findings show that we’ve made progress, we still have a long way to go.”

Study Overview and Key Findings

The study analyzed data from 14,248 women and 26,524 men who underwent coronary angiography from 2000 to 2019. Utilizing X-ray imaging and contrast dye, this procedure allows doctors to visualize the coronary arteries, which are crucial for heart function. Researchers discovered that men treated for heart disease had higher odds of smoking, prior heart attacks, left ventricular dysfunction, and hyperlipidemia compared to women.

Conversely, women were more likely to present with comorbidities like diabetes and high blood pressure, and they often experienced more stable chest pain. Strikingly, the study revealed less severe blockages in women's arteries compared to men’s, yet women were prescribed cardiac medications less frequently, despite evidence showing these drugs can significantly impact health outcomes.

Long-Term Outcomes Show Promise

Longitudinal data indicated that, although women faced a higher prevalence of major cardiac events within one to three years compared to men, these mortality rates have begun to stabilize over time. Notably, during the recent 2015 to 2019 interval, researchers reported no significant differences in the rates of major cardiac events between genders, suggesting that ongoing efforts to address these health disparities are yielding positive results.

Challenges Remain: Awareness is Key

Despite these advances, the research indicates that awareness of heart disease risk among women has decreased—falling from 65% in 2009 to just 44% in 2019. Alarmingly, a recent study in the journal *Circulation* affirmed that less than half of women surveyed were aware of their heart disease risks.

The evidence speaks volumes: women with poor or intermediate health factors face a fivefold increased risk of heart disease compared to their male counterparts. Furthermore, even women with ideal health show a 2.5-fold increase in risk.

Rasmusson highlights the critical need for women to understand that they share equal risk with men for heart disease, which is the leading cause of death—outpacing all forms of cancer combined. “Women need help to manage their risk factors, recognize cardiac symptoms, and seek prompt care. This will make a difference,” she asserts.

Conclusion

As we witness the narrowing of the gender gap in heart disease outcomes, it becomes increasingly vital to prioritize women's health education and tailored treatment approaches. The fight against heart disease is far from over, but with awareness and proactive management, women can empower themselves to lead healthier lives and reduce their risk of heart-related events.