Vascular risk at menopause: The importance of a cardio-gynecological program

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of mortality among postmenopausal women in the European region. While women share traditional cardiovascular risk factors with men, the prevalence and impact on the cardiovascular system of these factors differ by gender. Moreover, women-specific risk factors have recently been identified, including premature or early-onset menopause, migraine, polycystic ovary syndrome, infertility, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, gestational diabetes and endometriosis. This review details the example of three French gynecological-cardiological care pathways addressing these issues. The first example, based at Cochin-Hôtel-Dieu Hospital in Paris, is a gynecological and cardiological pathway focusing on women with premature ovarian failure, perimenopause, or menopause. The results reveal that over half of women assessed had either at least one new diagnosis of a major risk factor (hypertension, diabetes or dyslipidemia), or adjustments of their treatment. The second example is Menopause Center in Toulouse, assessing women aged 45 to 60. The assessment found that 35% had a single risk factor and another 35% had two or more traditional cardiovascular risk factors. The third example is the Women's Cardiovascular Healthcare Foundation, a mobile unit that visits 20 cities across France to carry out cardiac and gynecological screening, specifically targeting those in precarious situations. The results show that 90.2% of women had more than two cardiovascular risk factors. All these findings highlight the urgent need to address women's cardiovascular health. Collaboration between gynecologists and cardiologists could be strengthened to become a highly effective strategy for improving the cardiovascular health of women.