Curated News
By: NewsRamp Editorial Staff
February 23, 2026
Women Face Heart Attack Risk at Lower Plaque Levels Than Men
TLDR
- Women gain a critical health advantage by recognizing that lower plaque levels don't protect them, allowing earlier intervention to prevent heart events compared to men.
- A Harvard Medical School study of 4,267 adults found women's heart risk rises at 20% plaque burden versus 28% for men, using coronary computed tomography angiography.
- This research advances equitable healthcare by revealing biological differences in heart disease, potentially saving women's lives through more accurate risk assessment and prevention.
- Despite having half the plaque volume of men, women face equal heart attack risk, with smaller arteries making moderate plaque disproportionately dangerous.
Impact - Why it Matters
This research fundamentally changes how we understand cardiovascular risk in women, revealing that traditional plaque-based risk assessments may dangerously underestimate their vulnerability. Since cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death globally, affecting nearly half of all female deaths according to the American Heart Association's statistics, these findings have immediate clinical implications. Women and their healthcare providers need to recognize that even moderate plaque accumulation can pose significant danger, particularly after menopause. This underscores the importance of gender-specific screening protocols and awareness that women's heart disease manifests differently, potentially saving lives through earlier intervention and more accurate risk assessment.
Summary
A groundbreaking study published in Circulation: Cardiovascular Imaging reveals that women face heart attack and chest pain risks at significantly lower levels of artery plaque than men, challenging conventional assumptions about cardiovascular protection. The research, involving over 4,200 adults from the PROMISE trial, found that while women had less plaque volume (median 78 mm³ vs. 156 mm³ in men) and lower prevalence (55% vs. 75%), their risk of major cardiac events was comparable to men's. Crucially, women's risk began rising at just 20% plaque burden compared to 28% for men, with risk escalating more sharply as plaque increased, particularly after menopause.
Led by Dr. Jan Brendel of Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, with senior author Dr. Borek Foldyna, the study emphasizes that women's smaller coronary arteries make even moderate plaque accumulation disproportionately dangerous. This finding underscores fundamental biological differences in cardiovascular disease manifestation between genders, as highlighted by American Heart Association President Dr. Stacey E. Rosen. The research, supported by the American Heart Association's 2026 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics showing cardiovascular disease caused 433,254 female deaths, suggests current risk assessment models may underestimate women's vulnerability.
The study's implications extend to clinical practice, suggesting the need for gender-specific diagnostic thresholds and awareness campaigns. Resources like the American Heart Association's health information on atherosclerosis and heart attack symptoms in women provide crucial context, while the organization's financial information demonstrates its research integrity. This research represents a significant step toward addressing cardiovascular disease burden through gender-informed approaches, with findings available via the manuscript link and additional multimedia resources.
Source Statement
This curated news summary relied on content disributed by NewMediaWire. Read the original source here, Women Face Heart Attack Risk at Lower Plaque Levels Than Men
