Understanding cardiovascular risk factors in women

In a recent interview with Contemporary OB/GYN, Martha Gulati, MD, professor of cardiology at Cedars Sinai, discussed the unique cardiovascular risks for women compared to men, emphasizing how sex-based differences impact these risks.

Gulati explained that while traditional risk factors for heart disease, such as diabetes and smoking, are common to both woman and men, they often affect women more severely. For instance, diabetes increases the risk of cardiovascular disease more in women than in men, and smoking causes greater vascular damage in women for the same number of cigarettes smoked.

Beyond traditional risk factors, Gulati noted that there are sex-specific risk factors unique to women. These include factors related to reproductive health, such as the age at which menstruation begins, adverse pregnancy outcomes including preeclampsia or gestational diabetes, and early menopause. Each of these factors increases a woman's risk of cardiovascular disease later in life. For example, conditions such as high blood pressure or gestational diabetes during pregnancy may resolve after childbirth but still signal an elevated risk for future heart disease and stroke.

Gulati highlighted the importance of collaboration between cardiologists and ob-gyns in addressing these risks. Since many women rely on their ob-gyn as their primary healthcare provider, ob-gyns play a crucial role in identifying cardiovascular risk factors and referring women to cardiologists when necessary. Screening measures such as regular blood pressure and cholesterol checks, along with awareness of sex-specific risk factors, are vital steps that ob-gyns can take to support cardiovascular health.

She also highlighted the growth of cardio-obstetric clinics, where cardiologists and ob-gyns work together to provide preventive care for women with adverse pregnancy outcomes. These clinics offer assessments and ongoing monitoring for women at high risk, helping them understand the long-term implications of pregnancy-related conditions and adopt preventive measures.

Gulati emphasized that proactive screening and early identification of cardiovascular risk factors can greatly reduce future health issues and improve women’s long-term health outcomes.