Coronary heart disease in women: highlights of the past 2 years--stepping stones, milestones and obstructing boulders

Abstract

Emerging data continue to highlight important sex-based differences in coronary heart disease (CHD) prevention and diagnostic testing, in the management of acute coronary syndromes and in the outcomes of CHD therapies. Evidence-based guidelines have been developed that offer specific recommendations for clinicians and information for women. These guidelines are buttressed by results that have become available from randomized, controlled clinical trials in women, and data from CHD registries and clinical trials involving both sexes but including adequate numbers of women to enable the reporting of sex-specific results. Underuse of guideline-based preventive and therapeutic strategies for women probably contributes to their less favorable CHD outcomes. Adherence to recommendations offers the promise of improving the heart health of women. In this article, I summarize new information to guide the preventive, diagnostic and therapeutic management of CHD in women.