Myocardial infarction: women are at least as concerned as men!

Agir pour le Cœur des Femmes regularly draws attention to the specificities of women's cardiovascular disease, anticipates the situation by offering vulnerable women targeted screening through its national "Bus du Cœur des Femmes" campaign, and supports these women through structured cardiovascular and gynecological care programs in each screening site town.

Dr. Stéphane Manzo, Cardiologist at AP-HP in Paris and ambassador for Agir pour le Cœur des femmes explains why women are at least as concerned as men when it comes to myocardial infarction!
For a long time, myocardial infarction (MI) was considered a man's disease, sparing women. In France, however, recent years have seen a significant increase in the number of hospitalizations and deaths from MI among women, particularly those under 65. Until now, women presenting with MI were 5 to 10 years older than men, and had more cardiovascular risk factors, mainly diabetes and hypertension, which were often unrecognized or inadequately treated at the time of MI diagnosis. Today, MI is increasingly affecting young women, especially those who smoke. Often, in addition to the classic chest pain, found in 2/3 of them, women report more "atypical" symptoms: nausea, epigastric discomfort. However, it's vital to call for help as soon as possible, after 15 minutes of "suspicious" pain, by calling 15. In fact, the outcome of an MDI in women is more dismal than in men, with more complications and death in the days that follow. Prompt, appropriate treatment is the only way to improve prognosis. Cardiological investigations must be carried out as soon as possible. It is sometimes possible to miss a complete occlusion of a coronary artery, even in the presence of genuine pain and electrocardiogram signs. In fact, in women, rarer forms may be found, such as spontaneous coronary dissections (internal tears in the artery wall that can occlude the artery), coronary spasms, or even infarctions with no visible coronary lesion, despite extensive investigations, notably using endocoronary imaging techniques. It is essential to adopt information strategies to limit complications and improve prognosis. Prevention involves screening and appropriate management of cardiovascular risk factors: diabetes, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, but also a history of complicated pregnancies (diabetes, hypertension, pre-eclampsia, premature birth, etc.). It is also important to make the public and all healthcare professionals aware of the risk in women, even young women, its sometimes atypical forms and the need for rapid, aggressive management.

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