Women at risk of coronary heart disease experience barriers to diagnosis and treatment: A qualitative interview study

Abstract

Objective. To explore barriers in the health service to diagnosis and treatment experienced by women at increased risk of coronary heart disease (CHD). Design. Qualitative study using semi-structured interviews. Setting. Norway. Subjects. Twenty women diagnosed with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) recruited through a lipid clinic. Results. Women reported three specific barriers related to diagnosis and treatment of CHD. They had to struggle to take a cholesterol test; they experienced that their risk was being downplayed by doctors; and that their symptoms of CHD were misinterpreted when they consulted doctors for evaluation and treatment. Conclusion. Stereotyping CHD as a man's disease may result in barriers to diagnosis and treatment for women. Doctors should ask the patient about the family history of CHD if a concern about heart disease is on the patient's agenda.

• Coronary disease
• family practice
• health services
• hypercholesterolemia
• hyperlipidemia
• physician–patient relations
• risk factors
• women