Women’s health: 79% of women have no cardiovascular monitoring

This May 28, 2024 will mark the International Day of Action for Women’s Health. On this occasion, the Agir pour le Cœur des Femmes association draws attention to an alarming situation. Although myocardial infarction is the leading cause of death in women and one in four suffers a stroke, 79% of women have no cardiovascular monitoring.

This figure comes from the National Observatory of Women’s Health 2024, a study by the organization which compiles the medical data collected in the 8,000 medical records resulting from Women’s Heart Bus screenings since its creation.

Cardiovascular disease: 89% of women have at least two risk factors

The 3^e edition of the ONSF also reveals that three-quarters of postmenopausal women (74%) are not followed by a cardiologist. This is particularly worrying for the association, because they are in the most risky period of their lives. In addition, less than half of them (44%) have up-to-date gynecological follow-up. “After the age of 69, women’s gynecological follow-up collapses, even though they should at least continue their mammograms every two years. Postmenopausal women are less well followed than non-menopausal women on a gynecological level, and very insufficiently followed on the cardiovascular level”explains the association in its press release.

Another observation: almost 9 out of 10 patients (89%) have at least two cardiovascular risk factors for a median age of 55 years. Nearly half of them (46%) also have two gyneco-obstetric risk factors (contraindicated contraception, non-existent gynecological follow-up, late pregnancies, etc.). An element that makes them high-risk patients.

According to the study, two-thirds of women display psychosocial risk factors – such as chronic stress – associated with cardiovascular disease. “Women of the 21st century have more than ever these risk factors: the increase in mental workload and the increasing adoption of risky behaviors (sedentary lifestyle, poor diet, tobacco, alcohol, contraindicated contraception, etc.). ) are increasingly reducing the gender gap in terms of cardiovascular mortality, unfortunately not in a good direction.adds Acting for the Hearts of Women.

Women’s health: how to optimize your consultation with the doctor

Beyond the risk factors which increase women’s heart risks, the association also warns against the lack of consideration of women’s specificities by medicine, which can create defects in care (symptoms less well identified , treatments more suited to men…).

To help patients “be more active in their own health in tandem with their doctor”Acting for the Heart of Women has developed a self-questionnaire entitled ‘I am preparing my consultation’. Downloadable from the association’s website, it helps to take stock of gynecological, cardiovascular and family history as well as lifestyle and even medical follow-up. It also offers practical advice for the appointment (documents to bring, information to carry out, measures to take, etc.).

“By completing this self-questionnaire and presenting it accompanied by the complete medical file, the consultation will be optimized, for the benefit of everyone (doctor and patient)”, ensures organization.