The Pulse of ACC | Cardiovascular disease in women is associated with high levels of morbidity and mortality. Although many of the underlying causes are similar for both genders, cardiovascular disease among women has some unique features, including higher coronary heart disease mortality, higher frequency of sudden cardiac death without previous symptoms, and increased mortality among older women compared to men following a myocardial infarction.

During recent years, increased efforts have been placed on identifying preventive measures, but translation of knowledge from epidemiological studies and clinical trials remain incomplete, particularly in women. Now a new ACC Committee focused on cardiovascular disease in women will begin to fill this gap, with the goal of fostering a new generation of clinicians, researchers and health advocates familiar with important issues regarding women’s cardiovascular health and directly impacting the cardiovascular health of women nationally.

Specifically the committee will promote the development and publication of guidelines and other clinical documents dealing with sex specific differences in cardiovascular health and disease; help form partnerships and affiliations with other professional societies and patient advocacy groups with parallel interests around women’s cardiovascular health; and advocate for health policies that benefit women with cardiovascular disease.

Keywords: Health Policy, Myocardial Infarction, Morbidity, Epidemiologic Studies, Women's Health, Death, Sudden, Cardiac, Cardiology Magazine, ACC Publications

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