Reports
In this section, you can download reports on women and heart disease. We also provide a brief outline of each report.
Women and Heart Disease Forum
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In November 2010, for the first time in Australia, the Heart Foundation hosted a Women and Heart Disease Forum. The forum looked at current evidence on women in heart disease; discussed prevention, management research and policy initiatives; and set priorities for reducing heart disease in women.
Participants from different sectors attended the forum, including government, research, health, academic and non-government organisations. |
You can find out more about the forum here or read the full report.
Women and heart disease: Cardiovascular profile of women in Australia
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The Women and heart disease: Cardiovascular profile of women in Australia report dispels any myths about heart disease not being an important health issue for women.
This landmark report was funded by the Heart Foundation and produced by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW). It was launched by the Federal Minister for Health and Ageing at the time, Nicola Roxon, on 1 June 2010. |
Key findings include:
- Heart disease is responsible for more than 25% of premature deaths in women
- More than 90% of women have one risk factor for heart disease and 50% have two or three risk factors[1], for example: From as young as 35–44 years, it is more common for women to be overweight or obese than to have a healthy weight; One in five women aged 20–29 years smoke daily; 76% of women are physically inactive
- Healthcare expenditure on women with heart disease is 20% less per person than males on average ($261 and $322 respectively)[2]
- Heart disease is the second most expensive disease in terms of health system expenditure on women in Australia, with $2682.8 million spent in 2004–05[2]
- Procedures given to men and women admitted to hospital with heart disease differ. For example, in 2006–07, women were less likely than men to undergo percutaneous coronary intervention – a common treatment used to help restore blood flow to the heart (26% compared to 74% respectively)[3]
- Women had lower rates of in-hospital procedures than men, such as coronary angioplasty (stenting), coronary artery bypass grafting (bypass surgery), implantation of a heart defibrillator and carotid endarterectomy. In other areas of diagnosis and treatment, the gender balance was even[3]
For more information, read the full report or summary bulletin.
[1] Australian Institute of Health and Welfare 2010. Women and heart disease: Cardiovascular profile of women in Australia. Cardiovascular disease series no.33. Cat. No. CVD 49. Canberra. AIHW.
[2] AIHW Disease Expenditure Database as quoted in the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare 2010. Women and heart disease: Cardiovascular profile of women in Australia. Cardiovascular disease series no.33. Cat. No. CVD 49. Canberra. AIHW.
[3] AIHW National Hospital Morbidity Database as quoted in the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare 2010. Women and heart disease: Cardiovascular profile of women in Australia. Cardiovascular disease series no.33. Cat. No. CVD 49. Canberra. AIHW