Sex Differences in Coronary Plaque Burden and Cardiovascular Event Risk Revealed

Sex differences in coronary plaque burden and cardiovascular event risk revealed

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the most common cause of death globally. In CAD, plaques composed of cholesterol, fats, calcium and other compounds accumulate and create obstructions in the coronary vessels that supply blood to the heart.

Women may face heart events at lower plaque levels than men, study finds

Less artery-clogging plaque in women's arteries did not appear to protect them from heart disease compared to men, according to a study published in Circulation: Cardiovascular Imaging. While heart disease is the leading cause of illness and death in the U.S. and worldwide, according to the American Heart Association's 2026 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics, women tend to have a lower prevalence of artery plaque than men, according to previous…

Women’s heart attack risk rises even if arteries aren’t as clogged as men’s

Heart disease in women may trigger risk at lower plaque levels than in men, new study says, raising concerns coronary scans could understate the danger.

Women’s Risk of Major Cardiac Events Emerges at Lower Coronary Plaque Burden Compared to Men

Investigators from Mass General Brigham found that, although women had smaller plaque volumes and fewer plaques with high-risk characteristics, they experienced similar rates of MACE compared with men and showed differences in how plaque burden related to cardiovascular risk over time.

Cardiovascular Event Risk Emerges at Lower Coronary Plaque Burden in Women

Research led by Harvard Medical School shows the level of plaque clogging a person’s arteries is likely more relevant for judging heart attack risk in men than in women. The study, published in Circulation: Cardiovascular Imaging, showed that while women have significantly lower levels of coronary artery plaque than men, this does not necessarily translate to lower risk for cardiovascular disease and events such as heart attacks. Heart disease i…