Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death among women in the United Kingdom, including coronary heart disease. Over 3.6 million women live with heart disease and it kills over twice as many women as breast cancer. Despite this, heart disease in women remains underdiagnosed and undertreated.
Women’s CVD symptoms are frequently mistaken for other conditions, such as stomach problems or anxiety, leading to fewer tests and specialist referrals. Women’s risk factors also differ from men’s; with hormonal influences and pregnancy-related complications often overlooked.
In women without symptoms or a diagnosed medical condition, CVD risk is typically assessed through the NHS Health Check, which estimates the risk of heart disease based on age, sex, blood pressure, cholesterol levels, smoking status, diabetes, ethnicity, and other health indicators.
However, it does not include women-specific risk factors, which may contribute to underdiagnosis of CVD in women. Consequently, coronary heart disease can go unrecognised, increasing the risk of heart attacks or strokes.
This project will use new technology to identify CVD in women at a GP practice near them.
It will specifically target women with increased female-specific risk factors, enabling earlier detection and helping to address gender disparities in diagnosis and care. Higher risk women will be identified through a clinical records search and be invited to a 10-minute Cardisiography test.
This test detects changes in heart rhythm, blood flow, and cardiac structure, and the test results help support the GP to determine whether further investigation or management is needed. Any necessary follow-up can be arranged immediately.
This pathway enables earlier diagnosis and treatment, reducing the risk of heart attacks and strokes in women. The project will be evaluated to determine its impact, and key insights and learnings will be shared.
Suffolk and North East Essex Integrated Care Board (ICB), along with a number of partner organisations, are applying for funding for this project and will work with the Women's Health Network to ensure it is designed, delivered and evaluated in co-production with local women, people and communities.
Please complete this form to support SNEE ICB to be successful in the funding and future development of this work, thank you! If you have any queries, please contact Caroline Angus (Director, Integrated Care Academy): caroline.angus@snee.nhs.uk
