Despite the prevalence of chronic disease associated with aortic stenosis in women over 65 years of age, the majority have never been referred to a cardiologist.Racial disparities may present an opportunity to further increase awareness of women at risk for cardiovascular disease

dublin, April 7, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Medtronic, a global leader in healthcare technology, today announced the top line of a comprehensive survey of women’s perceptions and knowledge of risk factors, treatment patterns, and preventive care practices associated with valvular heart disease. We have announced the results of our investigation. The research is supported by Women as One and was conducted by Wakefield Research with a sample of 1,000 women. US (USA) Over 50 years old.

“To address the increasing challenges that women patients face in healthcare, we need a thorough understanding of issues surrounding female patient awareness and its impact on women’s health,” he said. Ta. nina goodhart, senior vice president and president of Structural Heart and Aorta, part of Medtronic’s cardiovascular portfolio. “Awareness of valvular heart disease deserves broader attention in the United States, especially given that many women over the age of 50 are at increased risk for developing valvular heart disease. , which highlights the need for access to appropriate care for women. “

The study included a diverse sample of women over the age of 50, with 53% between the ages of 50 and 65 and 47% over the age of 66. Notably, we found that 23.5% of respondents were Black or Hispanic, a demographic that is nationally representative of U.S. women in this age group. Highlights of the findings include:

There is a lack of awareness among women about the risk of aortic stenosis (AS) and cardiovascular disease.

Despite the prevalence of cardiovascular disease among women, awareness is low; 26% of women suffer from the most common heart-related conditions, including coronary artery disease, congenital heart disease, valvular heart disease, and AS. 30% of women over 50 have heard of AS.

Furthermore, women of color are less aware than white women.Only 10% of black women and 21% of Hispanic women have heard of AS, compared to 33% of white women.

Women are not referred for diagnosis or treatment.
Even women with risk factors do not always have access to referral and screening, highlighting opportunities to strengthen referral and preventive screening pathways. In fact, 82% of women over the age of 65 have a chronic condition that increases their risk of aortic stenosis, but the majority (68%) do not see a cardiologist or undergo a heart disease risk assessment. I have never received one.

Women do not seek cardiovascular care because they believe their symptoms will not be taken seriously.
Women who experience symptoms of heart valve disease, such as fatigue and shortness of breath, say the following symptoms prevent them from seeking medical care:

• More than 2 in 5 women cite fear or anxiety about going to the doctor
• 15% say they feel like their doctor ignores their symptoms

Women are interested in treatments that are proven to be effective for women.
When a woman is diagnosed with a medical condition such as heart valve disease and is deciding which treatment to choose, she will decide what is best for her based on several important factors, including minimally invasive treatment, recovery time, and doctor’s recommendation. Consider.

• When selecting their top three factors to consider, nearly half (45%) included minimally invasive procedures, highlighting the importance of solutions like TAVR.
• Additionally, the majority of women surveyed (75%) would ask their doctor about a different treatment if they learned of a treatment that was shown to be more effective for them than the treatment recommended by their doctor. respondents say they are very likely or very likely to ask questions.

“Compared to male patients, female patients often present with more advanced symptoms of valvular heart disease, highlighting the importance of identifying how women can be most effectively educated about early warning signs and treatment options.” “It has been done,” he said. Roxana Mehran, MD, co-founder and president of Women as One. “These findings provide an opportunity to build better partnerships with communities experiencing the most inequalities and provide a pathway to refine policies and systems that lead to better care.”

Medtronic, Women as One and others are working to improve health equity for women with valvular heart disease, from educational campaigns to women-focused clinical trial research with policy makers and government officials. He is at the forefront of this effort.

“Driving change to address inequities in health care cannot be done alone. When it comes to women’s heart valve disease, Medtronic is partnering with the clinical community and organizations like Women as One to improve health outcomes. We are proud to identify opportunities to improve equity outcomes in the United States,” Goodhart added. . “We look forward to further demonstrating this effort today at the American College of Cardiology Academic Session with results from the SMART trial, the latest effort to address the underrepresentation of women in cardiovascular health research. I am.”

About women and aortic stenosis
Aortic stenosis (AS), a narrowing of the aortic valve, is one of the most common heart valve diseases, affecting 1.5 million people in the United States.¹ Symptomatic severe aortic stenosis (ssAS) can be fatal if left untreated, and the average survival time without treatment is 2 years.² Despite women’s longer life expectancy, once affected by ssAS, women have a higher mortality rate than men, even when combined for age.³ A surprising 77% of women have chronic conditions that increase their risk of aortic stenosis, including high blood pressure (53%), high cholesterol (39%), and obesity (38%). For more information, please visit MyInteractiveASJourney.com.

About being a woman
Women as One is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization founded in 2019 by internationally recognized cardiovascular clinical trialists Dr. Roxana Mehran and Dr. Marie-Claude Morice. The organization’s mission is to advance talent in medicine by providing unique professional opportunities for female cardiac surgeons, recognizing that diversity of thought and experience improves scientific discovery and patient outcomes. is. The organization offers a wide range of programs and services, from clinical education and mentorship to clinical trial services. Women as One effectively accelerates the rate at which gender disparities in cardiology are adequately addressed through resources specifically for female cardiologists and their patients.

About Medtronic
A bold idea. A bolder move. We are Medtronic. Medtronic plc, headquartered in Dublin; Irelandis a leading global healthcare technology company that boldly challenges humanity’s most challenging health problems by searching for and finding solutions. Our mission to alleviate pain, restore health and extend lifespan unites his global team of more than 95,000 passionate people across 150 countries. Our technologies and therapies treat 70 health conditions and include cardiac devices, surgical robots, insulin pumps, surgical instruments, patient monitoring systems, and more. Driven by diverse knowledge, insatiable curiosity, and a desire to help everyone who needs it, we deliver innovative technology that changes lives every second, hour, and day. doing. Expect more from us for insight-driven care, people-first experiences, and a better outcome for the world. In everything we do, we are engineering something extraordinary. For more information about Medtronic (NYSE: MDT), visit www.Medtronic.com and follow Medtronic on LinkedIn.

Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties such as those described in Medtronic’s periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Actual results may differ materially from anticipated results.

¹ Carabello BA, Paulus WJ. Aortic valve stenosis. Lancet. 2009 March 14;373(9667):956-966.
² Lester SJ, Heilbron B, Gin K, Dodek A, Jue J. Natural history and rate of progression of aortic stenosis. chest. April 1998;113(4):1109-1114.
³ Heart Associate. 2021;10:e018816. DOI: 10.1161/JAHA.120.018816.

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