Nahid Azad, MD, Associate Professor, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON.
Arlene S. Bierman, MD, MS, FRCPC, Ontario Women’s Health Council Chair in Women’s Health, Centre for Research on Inner City Health, St. Michael’s Hospital; Faculties of Medicine and Nursing, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON.
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality for both men and women. Among individuals with coronary heart disease (CHD), there are gender differences in clinical epidemiology, prevalence of risk factors, clinical presentation, and quality and outcomes of care. Older adults and older women in particular are at risk for underdiagnosis and suboptimal management of CHD and its risk factors. Adherence to clinical practice guidelines for diagnosis and management of CHD can improve outcomes of care for older men and women with CHD and narrow gender disparities in clinical outcomes.
Key words: cardiovascular disease, gender, older adults, quality of care, women’s health, coronary heart disease.
