Guidelines for the prevention of cardiovascular disease in women: international challenges and opportunities

Abstract

Women are victims of cardiovascular disease (CVD) at rates similar to men. A reduction in CVD within developed nations has been noted and is primarily due to preventive efforts focused on risk factor modification. Middle- and low-income nations, however, have noted an increase in CVD. Efforts to reduce the occurrence of CVD risk factors targeting women’s health in these populations are lacking and need to be encouraged. Risk factor modification with regards to hypertension, dyslipidemia, diabetes, tobacco use, abdominal obesity and psychosocial factors would provide the greatest reduction in CVD occurrence.

Keywords::

• cardiovascular disease
• diet
• dyslipidemia
• education
• hypertension
• industrialization
• obesity
• physical inactivity
• urbanization
• women

Financial & competing interests disclosure

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.