New heart attack guidelines will catch more cases in women
Updated guidelines use sex-specific blood tests to better diagnose heart attacks in women, including rare SCAD cases.
A new global definition of heart attack was published in the European Heart Journal. The updated guidelines suggest using sex-specific troponin blood test ranges.
Troponin levels are different between men and women. Heart attacks more common in women, like SCAD, are now grouped with regular heart attack types.
This makes them easier to diagnose. SCAD is spontaneous coronary artery dissection, a tear in a heart artery.
It mostly affects women without traditional risk factors. An Australian study found that nearly one in four acute coronary syndrome events in women under age 60 were caused by SCAD.
The Heart Foundation said the changes will help doctors pick up heart attacks in women when they're showing symptoms. These changes match Australia's own clinical guidelines.
Diagnosis will improve with these changes. But experts say gender gaps in heart treatment still need work.
- European Heart Journal
- Publication venue
- March 25, 2023
- Nadene Hall incident date
Why it mattersWomen often have different heart attack symptoms and causes than men. These guidelines help doctors diagnose and treat heart attacks faster.
AustraliaAustralia's Heart Foundation backs the new guidelines and says they align with local practice, meaning Australian doctors can use sex-specific blood tests to catch more female heart attack cases.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 21 d ago
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