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Men's Hearts Race Ahead: CVD strikes 7 years earlier
6 Feb
Summary
- Men develop cardiovascular disease seven years earlier than women.
- Coronary heart disease is the most common subtype, affecting men sooner.
- Stroke and heart failure incidence occurred at similar ages for both sexes.
A recent study indicates that men experience cardiovascular disease (CVD), including heart disease and stroke, about seven years earlier than women. This significant age gap in onset persists even when accounting for factors like female sex hormones.
The research, utilizing data from the CARDIA study over 30 years, found that men reached a 5% incidence of CVD by age 50.5, while women reached this benchmark later, at 57.5. Coronary heart disease (CHD) was identified as the most common subtype, with men showing a 2% incidence 10.1 years earlier than women.
Interestingly, the study noted that stroke and heart failure incidence occurred at similar ages for both men and women. These sex-based differences in cardiovascular risk begin to emerge as early as age 35, persisting throughout midlife, irrespective of cardiovascular health measures like smoking or physical activity.
