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Sex and Gender Differences in Psychosocial Risk Factors for Ischemic Heart Disease

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Abstract

Women have more depression and anxiety than men, which are associated with an increased risk of mortality in ischemic heart disease (IHD). Psychosocial factors are related to inflammation and an autonomic nervous system imbalance. Younger (premenopausal) women have a stronger effect for psychosocial factors and IHD outcomes than older women. Social norms and status, gender roles and expectations also contribute to health status in individuals with IHD. It may be difficult to distinguish cardiac symptoms from anxiety or a panic attack. Specific interventions are needed to reduce (chronic) psychosocial stress in women.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medical and Clinical Psychology, Center of Research on Psychology in Somatic Diseases (CoRPS), Tilburg University, Tilburg, The Netherlands

    Paula M. C. Mommersteeg Ph.D., Jos W. M. G. Widdershoven M.D., Ph.D. & Willem Johan Kop Ph.D.

  2. Department of Cardiology, Elisabeth-Tweesteden Hospital, Tilburg, The Netherlands

    Jos W. M. G. Widdershoven M.D., Ph.D.

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  1. Paula M. C. Mommersteeg Ph.D.
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  2. Jos W. M. G. Widdershoven M.D., Ph.D.
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  3. Willem Johan Kop Ph.D.
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Correspondence to Paula M. C. Mommersteeg Ph.D. .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Cardiology, Women’s Cardiac Health Program, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands

    Angela H.E.M. Maas

  2. Director Barbra Streisand Women’s Heart Center, Linda Joy Pollin Women’s Heart Health Program, Director Preventive Cardiac Center, Cedars-Sinai, Los Angeles, USA

    C. Noel Bairey Merz

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Mommersteeg, P.M.C., Widdershoven, J.W.M.G., Kop, W.J. (2017). Sex and Gender Differences in Psychosocial Risk Factors for Ischemic Heart Disease. In: Maas, A., Bairey Merz, C. (eds) Manual of Gynecardiology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-54960-6_13

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