Every year, more than 31,000 women die from heart disease, compared to 12,000 deaths from common forms of cancer such as breast cancer.
3,000 of these women died before they even made it to hospital for treatment.
They’re shocking statistics, especially when you consider the high media profile surrounding cancer awareness.
Our biggest killer
The findings come from a new study that looked at the impact of cardiovascular disease and associated diseases such as diabetes and kidney failure on women[1].
Their figures don’t get any better if you do get to hospital. Over a third of women admitted for the first time with heart failure and stroke passed away within 12 months.
One in nine women admitted for the first time with coronary artery disease, the leading cause of CVD deaths, died within 28 days.
And the cost to the health system on CVD-related hospital care for women? A massive $3 billion annually.
So why don’t we hear more about CVD in women then?
Know the signs
One of the report’s lead researchers, Maja-Lisa Lochan, told the ABC many women didn’t receive treatment in time because they didn’t recognise the symptoms of a heart attack.
“They often think it’s asthma, tiredness, influenza and … often related to diseases other than heart disease,” Professor Lochan said. “They avoid seeking treatment … more often than men.”
Women are also an average of ten years older than men when diagnosed. As a result, symptoms can be missed by doctors if they are suffering from other health problems.
The study also found most women mistakenly believed that heart disease was a condition that affected mainly men.
This is not true – and we need to get this message out there.
Making prevention a priority
The report recommends greater investment in awareness campaigns as well as updating guidelines to include specific treatment for women and more funding to research CVD in women.
A huge sixty per cent of heart disease in women is actually preventable, caused by high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and smoking.
The findings were presented to Federal Parliament at the Cardiovascular Risk and Disease in Australian Women Summit on Tuesday – with national investment in preventing chronic disease on the decline[2], it’s time for the Government to listen up now.
You can listen to Professor Maja-Lisa Lochan speak to RN Breakfast’s Fran Kelly about the research here.
[1] ‘Hidden Hearts: Cardiovascular Risk and Disease in Australian Women’: Mary Mackillop Institute for Health Research, Australian Catholic University – October 11, 2016
[2] ‘Australia’s health 2016 report’: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare – September 13, 2016
