Author Interviews, Heart Disease, JACC, Women's Heart Health / 27.06.2017
Cardiovascular Disease Not a Top Concern For Women or Their Physicians
MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
C. Noel Bairey Merz, MD, FACC
Director, Barbra Streisand Women's Heart Center
Director, Linda Joy Pollin Women's Heart Health Program
Director, Erika Glazer Family Foundation Women's Heart Disease Initiative
Director, Preventive Cardiac Center
Professor of Medicine
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?
Response: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the number 1 killer of women in the U.S.A., yet few younger women personalize awareness. CVD campaigns focus little attention on physicians and their role assessing risk.
MedicalResearch.com: What are the main findings?
Response: Overall, 45% of women were unaware that CVD is the #1 killer of women, only 11% knew a woman who has died from it. Overall, 45% of women reported it is common to cancel or postpone a physician appointment until losing weight. Cardiovascular disease was a top concern for only 39% of PCPs, after weight and breast health. A minority of physicians (22% of PCPs and 42% of cardiologists) felt well prepared to assess women’s CVD risk, and infrequently use guidelines.
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