WEDNESDAY, Sept. 21, 2022 (HealthDay News) — Most risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD) are similar for women and men, according to research published in the September 10 issue of The Lancet.

Marjan Walli-Attaei, Ph.D., of McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, and colleagues enrolled 155,724 participants aged 35 to 70 at baseline. Participants came from 21 high-, middle-, and low-income countries and were followed for approximately 10 years to examine the prevalence of metabolic, behavioral, and psychosocial risk factors for cardiovascular disease.

The researchers found that 4,280 and 4,911 major cardiovascular events had occurred in women and men, respectively, as of the data cutoff date (September 13, 2021). Women had a more favorable cardiovascular risk profile than men, especially at a younger age. The hazard ratios (RR) for metabolic risk factors were similar for men and women, except for elevated non-high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (RR, 1.11 in women and 1.28 in men, for major cardiovascular diseases). For the other lipid markers, the pattern was consistent. For symptoms of depression, the RRs were 1.09 and 1.42 for women and men, respectively. Consumption of a diet with a Prospective Urban Rural Epidemiological (PURE) score of 4 or less was more strongly associated with major cardiovascular disease in women than in men (1.17 versus 1.07). The total population attributable fractions associated with behavioral and psychosocial risk factors were higher in males than in females (15.7 versus 8.4%).

“Women and men have similar CVD risk factors, underscoring the importance of a similar strategy for CVD prevention in men and women,” Walli-Attaei said in a statement.

One author disclosed financial ties to the pharmaceutical industry.

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