Research has shown that the risk of heart attack for men increases rapidly starting at age 35. Additionally, the risk of developing cardiovascular disease also rises at an earlier age compared to women.
According to a study published this week in the 《Journal of the American Heart Association》, men reach a 5% risk of developing cardiovascular disease about 7 years earlier than women, and the risk of heart disease shows a similar pattern for both genders until about age 35, after which the risk for men increases more rapidly.
Researchers from Northwestern University analyzed data from the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) study, which began in the mid-1980s. This study involved over 5,100 adults aged 18 to 30, who were followed up until 2020. The participants were healthy at the start of the study.
The results indicated that men reached a 5% incidence of a wide range of cardiovascular diseases, including heart attack, stroke, and heart failure, about 7 years earlier than women. Specifically, men reached this point at age 50.5, while women reached it at age 57.5.
Most of this difference was attributed to coronary artery disease. Men reached a 2% incidence of coronary artery disease more than 10 years earlier than women. The incidence of stroke was similar between genders, while the difference in heart failure incidence appeared later.
Notably, the age at which the risk began to diverge was significant. Men and women had similar cardiovascular disease risks until their early 30s, but starting around age 35, men began to see a more rapid increase in risk, maintaining high levels into middle age.
The researchers stated, "Many heart disease screenings and prevention programs focus on adults over 40, and this study's findings suggest that this approach may overlook important early intervention opportunities."
They added, "While it may seem somewhat early, heart disease develops over decades, and early signs can be detected in young adulthood. Getting screened at a young age allows for quicker identification of risk factors and the development of preventive strategies to reduce long-term risks."
