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Vakhtangadze et al. Vessel Plus 2017;1:43-8 Vessel Plus
DOI: 10.20517/2574-1209.2016.05
www.vpjournal.net
Editorial Open Access

Myocardial ischemia in women: problems

and challenges

Tamar Vakhtangadze , Nino Gakhokidze
1
2
1 Research Institute of Clinical Medicine, Tbilisi Medical Academy, Caucasian International University, Tbilisi 0113, Georgia.
2 AIETI Medical School, Dighomi, Tbilisi 0159, Georgia.
Correspondence to: Prof. Tamar Vakhtangadze, Research Institute of Clinical Medicine, Tbilisi Medical Academy, Caucasian International
University, Tevdore Mgvdeli street 13, Tbilisi 0113, Georgia. E-mail: tamarvakh@yahoo.com
How to cite this article: Vakhtangadze T, Gakhokidze N. Myocardial ischemia in women: problems and challenges. Vessel Plus 2017;1:43-8.

Article history: Received: 25-09-2016 Accepted: 26-12-2016 Published: 27-06-2017

Dr. Tamar Vakhtangadze is an Associate Professor of Tbilisi Medical Academy, Assistant Professor of
Caucasus International University, Cardiologist at Research Institute of Clinical Medicine, Head of Cardiology
Service at Medical Centre of GEOSWISS, Head of Outpatient Cardiology Service at St. Joakim and Anna
Medical Centre. She is the Fellow of European Society Cardiology, member of the board of Georgian Society
of Cardiology, Head of working group on women’s cardiovascular morbidity of Georgian Society of Cardiology,
member of the board of Georgian Society of Atherosclerosis, Executive Director of Georgian Society of
Atherosclerosis, member of editorial board of journal “Actual Topics of Women’s Health”. She is author of more
than 60 publications. Her main fields of interest include ischemic heart disease, atherosclerosis, heart failure,
cardiomyopathies, women’s cardiovascular health, and noninvasive imaging.

INTRODUCTION affects men. However, over the last two decades,
it has been revealed women have higher rates of
Even in the 21st century, cardiovascular disease (CVD) cardiovascuar morbidity and mortality. For example,
remains an important public health issue because it is 49% of European women die from CVD, compared
associated with high rates of mortality and morbidity. [1-5] with 41% of men. At present, the basic statistical
[3]
In addition, the costs of treating and managing these facts are as follows: [1,3,5,8]
patients are very high, as such patients have a constant • Worldwide, one-third of all deaths among
need for medical treatment and their management women are due to CVD, with up to 8.6 million women
often requires sophisticated and expensive tests. dying from CVD each year. Furthermore, stroke kills
[6]
The use of preventive measures, identification of high- more women than men (11% vs. 8.4%).
risk groups, early diagnosis, and treatment of women • More than two-thirds (approximately 42%)
[7]
presenting with cardiovascular problems can all have of women who have heart attacks die within 1 year,
a significant influence on reducing cardiovascular compared with 24% of men.
mortality, morbidity, and treatment costs, as has been • Under the age of 50 years, women have
shown in various countries. double the risk of death after a heart attack than men.
• Heart attack and heart failure kill 6 times more
For a long time, it was thought that CVD predominantly women than breast cancer every year.

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