Abstract

BEYOND THE MALE PARADIGM: UNDERSTANDING THE UNIQUE ASPECTS OF CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE IN WOMEN

Arun Jacob, K. Jayaprakash and Sowparnika Treasa Sabu*

.

Abstract

Non communicable diseases (NCDs) kill 41 million people each year, equivalent to 74% of all deaths globally. According to WHO, each year, 17 million people die from a NCD before age 70; 86% of these premature deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries. Of all NCD deaths, 77% are in low- and middle-income countries. Cardiovascular diseases account for most NCD deaths, or 17.9 million people annually, followed by cancers (9.3 million), chronic respiratory diseases (4.1 million), and diabetes (2.0 million including kidney disease deaths caused by diabetes).In 2019, worldwide 17.9 million people died as a result of CVD, which is accounting for 32% of all deaths. In 2019, out of these 17 million premature fatalities (before reaching the age of 70) owing to NCDs, 85% of these deaths were caused by strokes and heart attacks, and 38% were related to CVD. In women, the annual mortality rate from CAD is high. According to the World Health Organization, Indians have a greater prevalence of risk factors such as diabetes mellitus and hypertension than western countries as well as early onset of CAD. This early onset of CAD among young Indians may be attributed to recent economic improvement, lifestyle changes, and an increase in the prevalence of smoking.[2] Coronary artery disease is the biggest killer of women globally. Coronary artery disease causes 8.6 million deaths among women annually, a third of all deaths in women worldwide. India is now estimated to be the coronary artery disease (CAD) capital of the world. CAD among women especially in young women as a group is less easily recognized worldwide.Globally, there has been a substantial rise in the proportion of women undergoing ―coronary angiography‖ (CAG) over the last few years. The reasons for this evolutionary change may be multifactorial. As a preliminary step in the process of discerning these changes, the clinical and angiographic profiles of women undergoing CAG must be understood. There are not many studies describing the prevalence and pattern of ―coronary artery disease‖ (CAD) in women undergoing CAG.

Keywords: CAD, Angiography, Prevalence, Risk factors, Women.