Epidemiology and Risk Factors of Cardiovascular Disease in Postmenopausal Women

Publisher Summary This chapter describes the epidemiology and pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in women and the risk factors involved, with special emphasis on gender-related differences and relation between estrogen deficiency and heart disease. Ischemic heart disease, commonly referred to as coronary heart disease (CHD), is the single leading cause of CVD deaths in women and in men. CHD in women is predicted to become the pandemic of the 21st century due to escalating increases in CHD risk factors from childhood. The consequences to women could be an earlier onset of CHD, increased prevalence of cardiovascular morbidity and diminished quality of life, decreased life expectancy, and premature death. Active prevention of CHD in women should aim at attenuating the impact of cardiovascular risk factors, beginning as early as childhood. Efforts should include control of eating habits and diet; early detection of plasma lipidemia, diabetes, and hypertension; avoidance of primary and secondary cigarette smoking; and providing education and support for the proper active lifestyle. The role of estrogen replacement in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women for the primary prevention of CVD remains to be determined.