The findings are based on the results of fifteen studies from 50 countries, including Brazil, China, Egypt and India. (Image: Shutterstock)
The study shows that the number of heart attacks among women aged 35 to 54 increased from 21 percent to 31 percent between 1995 and 2014.
According to the results of fifteen studies from 50 countries, including India, women suffer worse outcomes when diagnosed and treated for heart problems.
The researchers noted that the discrepancy is due to the fact that women present with additional nontraditional chest pain symptoms, including vomiting, jaw pain and abdominal pain.
If and when these symptoms are missed by doctors or by the patients themselves, diagnosis and treatments are delayed, they said.
“We found astonishing differences between men and women in cardiovascular disease diagnosis, treatment and symptoms,” said Mahdi O. Garelnabi, associate professor at the University of Massachusetts Lowell, USA.
“Women often go to the hospital later than men after the onset of symptoms, and doctors don’t hospitalize women to the same extent as men,” said Garelnabi.
The analysis, published in the journal Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology, also points to an increase in heart attack rates among younger women.
According to the researchers, the percentage of men rose only slightly over the same period, from 30 to 33 percent.
“It is alarming that the rate of heart attacks among younger women is on the rise,” says Garelnabi.
“Risk factors unique to women include premature menopause, endometriosis and hypertension disorders during pregnancy,” said the researcher.
The findings are based on the results of fifteen studies from 50 countries, including Brazil, China, Egypt, India, countries bordering the Arabian Gulf and the US.
The analysis includes the experiences of more than 2.3 million people.
(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and was published via a syndicated news agency feed – PTI)