0
0
December 6, 2024 — Researchers have developed a groundbreaking coronary risk score designed specifically for women, offering an accurate method to predict and categorize the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), such as heart attacks. The findings were published today in Radiology: Cardiothoracic Imaging.
Heart disease remains the leading cause of death for women, not only in the United States but also in Latin America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific countries, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). However, women have often been overlooked in cardiovascular research, primarily because men are more likely to suffer from conditions like coronary artery disease. This gender imbalance has contributed to a gap in accurate risk assessments for women.
“Women are often underrepresented in research studies, and in some settings may even be excluded,” said Dr. Guillermo Romero-Farina, a cardiologist and senior researcher at Vall d’Hebron University Hospital, Spain, and lead author of the study. “Risk stratification in women is particularly important because coronary disease in women may present differently and often with atypical symptoms.”
To address this gap, Dr. Romero-Farina and colleagues developed the Coronary Risk Score in Women (CORSWO). This new model, based on a comprehensive analysis of clinical, exercise, and imaging data, provides a refined approach to assessing the risk of heart attack, stroke, and other life-threatening cardiovascular events in women.
The study analyzed data from 2,226 women, aged 40 to 93, who were referred to Vall d’Hebron University Hospital’s Nuclear Cardiology Unit for risk evaluation. Over an average follow-up period of four years—ranging up to 10 years—patients underwent gated SPECT myocardial perfusion imaging, a technique that evaluates both left ventricular function and myocardial perfusion.
The researchers used eight key variables to develop the CORSWO model, which stratifies women into four risk categories: low, moderate, high, and very high. This stratification allows for more focused and personalized care, ensuring that resources and treatments are directed to those most at risk.
“The ability to group patients into risk levels, from low to very high risk, allows healthcare providers to allocate resources and treatments more effectively,” Dr. Romero-Farina explained.
The CORSWO model demonstrated superior predictive performance compared to other existing risk models, especially for women in the high and very high-risk categories. The approach’s inclusion of clinical, exercise, and imaging-based factors proved essential in accurately forecasting major cardiovascular events in women.
“This study helps identify high-risk women early, potentially preventing life-threatening conditions like heart attacks and sudden cardiac death,” Dr. Romero-Farina said. “By incorporating a wider array of factors, we are improving our ability to detect and intervene before these serious events occur.”
This innovative risk score marks a significant advancement in understanding and preventing cardiovascular disease in women, addressing a critical need for more tailored and effective healthcare strategies.
For more details, see the study titled Prediction of Major Adverse Coronary Events Using the Coronary Risk Score in Women, published in Radiology: Cardiothoracic Imaging (2024). DOI: 10.1148/ryct.230381.
