This misperception was reinforced by large epidemiological studies in the 1970s and 1980s showing that women not only had lower rates of CHD but also suffered less serious consequences after presenting with symptoms. In fact, in 1984, more women died of cardiovascular disease than did men. Hyperlipidemia, one of the most important contributors to a woman s risk of developing CHD, is also one of the most treatable. Dickey also notes that women have a significantly higher incidence of hypothyroidism than men, contributing to the likelihood of undesirable lipid profiles. According to the APGO monograph, other secondary causes of high LDL include nephrotic syndrome, obstructive liver disease, multiple myeloma, and the use of certain drugs, including anabolic steroids, corticosteroids, and some antihypertensives.
Lipoproteins are the protein components that carry cholesterol through the circulation.
Research shows that the size and density of LDL particles also influence CHD risk in women. However, many people will argue for the role of LDL, many other for the role of total cholesterol, and still other for the role of triglycerides. Both the Framingham Heart Study and the Lipid Research Clinics Follow-up Study found HDL levels to be the strongest lipid predictor of CHD risk in women, and some evidence suggests that triglycerides are a more important predictor of CHD in women than in men. Dickey points out that the difference between lipid profiles in men and premenopausal women is primarily due to differing trends in HDL cholesterol levels. The advantage of women is essentially lost at the time of ovarian failure, which can be at young age if they have their ovaries taken out.