An algorithm that health care providers can use to evaluate a woman's CVD risk and to prioritize preventive interventions is provided in the guidelines, as well as a list of the evidence-based clinical recommendations for preventing CVD in women, with lifestyle interventions, major risk factor interventions, and preventive drug interventions. Each recommendation also comes with the strength of the recommendation and the evidence used to support the recommendation. A table listing interventions that, based on current evidence, are not useful or effective and may be harmful for preventing CVD or MI in women is also incorporated.
The statement refers to a previous AHA study, which found that 36% of women did not perceive themselves to be at risk for CVD and 25% said their health care provider “did not say heart health was important.” And one in five “said their health care providers did not clearly explain how they could change their risk status.”
Other recommendations include advising women who need to lose weight or sustain weight loss to engage in moderate-intensity physical activity for 60-90 minutes on most but preferably all days of the week.
More research on the added benefits, risks, and costs of new CVD risk factors, such as high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, and new screening techniques, such as coronary calcium scoring, is needed before they can be incorporated into these guidelines, according to the panel.
Members of the panel represented organizations and cosponsors including the AHA, American College of Physicians, American College of Cardiology Foundation, American Academy of Family Physicians, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.