Wear Red Day: Raising awareness of disparities, barriers in women’s heart health

The first Friday each February marks National Wear Red Day, to raise awareness about heart disease.

Heart disease is the No. 1 cause of death in women. However, 80% of cardiac events can be prevented with education and lifestyle changes. Yet, awareness of heart disease and its risks remain low, according to the American Heart Association. Heart disease does not affect all women the same, and the signs and symptoms can be different than those in men.

Go Red For Women is the AHA’s national movement to raise awareness and end heart disease and stroke in women. For more information, visit www.goredforwomen.org.

Healio and Cardiology Today compiled a list of recent updates on women’s heart health, including risk factors, prevention, new treatments and more.

Women at higher risk for death by nighttime cardiac arrest than men

The risk for sudden nighttime cardiac death is higher for women than men, and female sex is an independent predictor of nighttime events, according to research published in HeartRhythm. Read more

Incidence, severity of stroke elevated in women, other groups

Women, older individuals and those living in lower socioeconomic areas have a higher incidence of stroke and subsequent major adverse outcomes, researchers reported. Read more

Normal blood glucose after gestational diabetes may indicate ASCVD risk

Women who developed first-time gestational diabetes and returned to normal blood glucose levels after pregnancy may experience a twofold increased risk for developing atherosclerotic CVD, according to new data from the CARDIA study. Read more

Women at higher risk for HF hospitalization after acute MI vs. men

Female patients had higher risk for HF hospitalization after survival of acute MI compared with male patients, according to study findings published in Heart. Read more

Diabetes, insulin resistance associated with premature CHD onset in women

Diabetes and insulin resistance appeared to be the strongest determinants for premature onset of CHD in women, according to study data published in JAMA Cardiology. Read more

Statins may lower cardiotoxic effect of anthracyclines in early breast cancer treatment

Older women who received early breast cancer treatment with anthracycline experienced fewer HF hospitalizations associated with the cardiotoxic effects of chemotherapy when also exposed to statin therapy, researchers reported. Read more

Managing dyslipidemia in pregnant women challenging

There are few evidence-based options for managing women with dyslipidemia who become pregnant or are thinking about it, a speaker said at the virtual National Lipid Association Scientific Sessions. Read more

Less sedentary time may improve rates of HF hospitalization in older women

Less daily sedentary time was associated with lower rates of HF hospitalization among postmenopausal women, according to a study published in Circulation: Heart Failure. Read more

Reproductive profiles in women may indicate future CVD risk

Several reproductive factors, including preeclampsia, preterm birth and early menopause, may increase risk for CVD in women, researchers found. Read more

Ischemic heart disease risk elevated in women veterans with PTSD

Women veterans with PTSD had a significantly elevated risk for ischemic heart disease after adjusting for factors such as age, psychiatric disorders, ischemic heart disease risk factors, and alcohol and illicit drug dependence, according to data presented at the American College of Cardiology Scientific Session. Read more