In France, cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death for women (26% ahead of cancer 25%) with 76,000 deaths per year. Women are affected at an increasingly young age, from their forties, as a result of changes in their way of life, which has made them adopt the bad habits of men: smoking, sedentary lifestyle, overweight, stress…Women in vulnerable situations are the most affected. Thus, the study* carried out at the end of 2021 based on data collected in the first 5 stopover cities of the Women’s Heart Bus revealed that 90% of participants in a vulnerable situation combine at least 2 cardiovascular and metabolic risk factors.
In 8 cases out of 10, the cardiovascular accident is avoidable by identifying risky situations and taking appropriate care. To act concretely and locally in the territories, Pr Claire Mounier-Vehier and Thierry Drilhon launched the Bus du Cœur des Femmes at the start of the 2021 school year with the objective of saving 10,000 lives in 5 years, after having created the endowment fund Acting for the Hearts of Women in May 2020.
The Women’s Heart Bus: a free, mobile cardio-gynecological screening system for women in vulnerable situations
Since 2021, the Women’s Heart Bus has been offering cardiovascular, metabolic and gynecological screening to women in vulnerable situations. In 2021, the Women’s Heart Bus stopped in 5 cities: Lille, Marseille, Avignon, La Rochelle, Saint-Etienne. It has already passed through 13 cities in France since January 2022 and will do two more stages by the end of 2022 (La baule from November 16 to 17 and Bobigny from November 23 to 25).
Screening takes place in 10 steps:
- reception and information,
- interview with the doctor,
- blood pressure measurements,
- measurements of metabolic parameters (weight, height and body mass index) & capillary assays of blood sugar and lipids,
- addiction interview,
- gynecological interview,
- summary with the doctor, organization of the follow-up
- introduction to blood pressure self-measurement with free delivery of a blood pressure self-measurement device offered by Axa Prévention, an explanation sheet for the procedure and the statements to be completed.
- electrocardiogram at rest, to detect heart rhythm disorders or after-effects of infarction
- arterial ultrasound screening for women most at risk
At the end of this screening, these sensitized women are put back on a health course with appointments scheduled for them. The Caisse Primaire d’Assurance Maladie, called upon in each city, makes it possible to update women’s rights and find them a doctor if necessary.
>>This 2022 screening operation has already screened more than 4,000 women since its launch a little over a year ago (September 2022).
Learn more:
www.agirpourlecoeurdesfemmes.com
* * Study conducted in partnership with the Research and Innovation Department of the Lille University Hospital, among 1,065 women aged 15 to 90 (52 years on average) screened in the Bus du Cœur des Femmes between September and November 2021
