Assessing Cardiovascular Disease Risk in Women

The Scope of the Problem

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the leading cause of death among women. In the United States alone, more than 300,000 women died from CVD in 2020. Despite this, women are assessed for CVD far less frequently than men, even when guideline-based evaluations are recommended.

• 71% of women have never discussed heart health with their physician.
• Only 45% of women are aware that heart disease is the number one cause of death in women.

Why Preventive Care Matters

Routine women’s health visits provide a critical opportunity for cardiovascular risk assessment. Evaluating risk factors and identifying metabolic abnormalities early form the cornerstone of preventive medicine.

Cardiovascular Disease in Women: Early Detection Saves Lives

One in five female deaths is linked to cardiovascular disease. Although men and women share common risk factors—such as hypertension, elevated LDL cholesterol, and smoking—women also experience additional, female-specific risk enhancers across different life stages.

Table 1: Female-Specific Cardiovascular Risk Enhancers by Life Stage

Adolescence / Young Adulthood

• Early or late menarche
• Weight gain
• Menstrual irregularities
• Infertility
• Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
• Endometriosis

Reproductive Years

• Gestational diabetes
• Preterm birth
• Preeclampsia
• Hormonal contraception
• Left-sided breast radiation therapy
• Palpitations
• Autoimmune disorders
• Thyroid disorders

Perimenopause / Menopause

• Bone and muscle loss
• Increase in blood pressure
• Cognitive decline
• Osteoporosis

Why Multimarker Assessment Should Be Used in Women

The development of cardiovascular disease can progress silently for many years. For this reason, it is essential to evaluate risk markers from multiple dimensions:

1) Lipid Profile (Cholesterol, LDL, HDL)

Improves risk classification and supports individualized treatment planning.

2) Inflammatory Markers

Reveal silent inflammation in the vessel walls and help identify hidden cardiovascular risk.

3) Metabolic Markers

Indicators such as insulin resistance and HbA1c enable early intervention before disease progression.

What Should Be Evaluated During Routine Women’s Health Visits?

• Assessment of female-specific risk enhancers across all life stages
• Multimarker cardiovascular risk evaluation including lipid, inflammatory, and metabolic markers
• Screening for conditions that increase CVD risk such as type 2 diabetes, chronic kidney disease, and fatty liver disease

Evaluating both traditional and female-specific risk factors together is essential for the early detection and prevention of cardiovascular disease in women.