Cardiovascular Disease - Women

Cardiovascular Disease - Women in United States

United States

Cardiovascular disease refers to several heart conditions, including heart disease, heart attacks and strokes that result from plaque build-up in artery walls. Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death in the United States. Among women, 1 in 5 deaths is attributed to cardiovascular disease. In addition, a significant proportion of pregnancy-related deaths are associated with cardiovascular conditions and multiple studies have found that women with multiple pregnancy complications are at an increased risk of cardiovascular disease in the future.

Risk factors for cardiovascular disease include high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity, physical inactivity, unhealthy diet, diabetes, smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, high levels of stress and a family history of heart disease or stroke. 

In 2017-2018, the annual direct and indirect costs of cardiovascular diseases and strokes totaled approximately $378 billion.

The prevalence of cardiovascular disease is higher among:

• Women ages 35-44 compared with women ages 18-34. 
• Women with less than a college education compared with women with a college degree.
• Women with an annual household income below $25,000, who have a prevalence more than four times that of women with an income of $75,000 or more. 
• American Indian/Alaska Native women compared with Black, Hispanic, Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, white and Asian women. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death for Black and white women and is tied with or second only to cancer among the other racial/ethnic groups.

Lifestyle changes and managing risk factors can help prevent and treat cardiovascular diseases. An analysis of National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data shows an estimated 44% of the decline in heart disease deaths between 1980 and 2000 was attributable to reductions in four risk factors: cholesterol, blood pressure, physical inactivity and smoking. In 2018, as many as 80% of heart attacks and strokes could have been prevented with minor lifestyle changes and more consistent use of low-cost, over-the-counter medications.

The American Heart Association has created Life’s Essential 8, a tool for individuals to measure their heart health. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has developed the Well-Integrated Screening and Evaluation for Women Across the Nation (WISEWOMAN) program to reduce the risk of heart disease among low-income and underserved women by providing screening and other necessary services.

The Million Hearts 2027 initiative is a national effort to prevent one million heart attacks and strokes in the next five years by promoting community and clinical prevention programs. Healthy People 2030 also has numerous objectives related to improving cardiac health and reducing heart disease and stroke mortality, including a leading health indicator aimed at increasing the proportion of adults with hypertension whose blood pressure is under control.

Ford, Earl S., Umed A. Ajani, Janet B. Croft, Julia A. Critchley, Darwin R. Labarthe, Thomas E. Kottke, Wayne H. Giles, and Simon Capewell. “Explaining the Decrease in U.S. Deaths from Coronary Disease, 1980–2000.” New England Journal of Medicine 356, no. 23 (June 7, 2007): 2388–98. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMsa053935.

Grandi, Sonia M., Kristian B. Filion, Sarah Yoon, Henok T. Ayele, Carla M. Doyle, Jennifer A. Hutcheon, Graeme N. Smith, et al. “Cardiovascular Disease-Related Morbidity and Mortality in Women With a History of Pregnancy Complications.” Circulation 139, no. 8 (February 19, 2019): 1069–79. https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.118.036748.

Tsao, Connie W., Aaron W. Aday, Zaid I. Almarzooq, Alvaro Alonso, Andrea Z. Beaton, Marcio S. Bittencourt, Amelia K. Boehme, et al. “Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics—2022 Update: A Report From the American Heart Association.” Circulation 145, no. 8 (February 22, 2022). https://doi.org/10.1161/CIR.0000000000001052.