CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE IN WOMEN

Abstract

NICVD is no longer a problem faced by the West
alone; on the contrary, it is the developing countries
that bear the biggest share of this disease. A
staggering 86% of the global burden of CVD is in the
developing countries today with 80% of the deaths
due to this disease occurring in amongst these
countries.1-2 Numerous studies have reported that
Indians have one of the highest rates of CAD in the
world1,3 and the prevalence of CAD in India has more
than doubled in the past two decades. Pakistan has a
very high disease burden, estimated as 5.09375
million2 A population based cross-sectional survey
showed that 1 in 4 middle aged adults in Pakistan has
prevalent CAD.

Even after the presentation of such clear cut facts, the
attitude of the Cardiologists/Physicians has not
changed towards tackling women heart disease.

Characteristics of atherosclerosis have been found to
be different in women. Blood clot formation is higher
in women owing to a higher potential of blood
coagulability.The “Go Red for Women” Campaign, launched by
WHO (in 2004) and adopted by the Pakistan Cardiac
Society in 2007, to bring awareness about Coronary
Artery Disease (CAD) in women is now reaching an
epidemic proportion