In the United States alone, more than half a million women die each year from cardiovascular disease (CVD), exceeding the number of CVD deaths in men as well as the next seven leading causes of death in women combined. This translates into approximately one woman s death every minute of every day of every year from CVD. Studies have shown that women with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) are less likely to receive appropriate pharmacologic management or diagnostic imaging than men. Recent evidence in the medical literature clearly indicates that there are differences in the presentation of ACS between men and women. Women with coronary artery disease may present with a broad range of atypical symptoms that are different than the typical male profile of ACS. Many physicians do not recognize the atypical presentations, and as a result, fail to diagnose ACS in women. Gender bias can add to the difficulty in diagnosing ACS in women; physicians may dismiss or minimize the seriousness of women s complaints. In this activity, we review gender differences in the presentation of ACS, look at the unique symptoms of ACS in women, and examine cognitive errors that contribute to diagnostic errors in the evaluation of women with ACS. After completing this activity, practitioners should be able to: integrate awareness of gender differences in the presentation of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) into clinical practice to reduce the incidence of the failure to diagnose ACS in women; distinguish signs and symptoms of ACS in women from those most commonly found in men; and assess when a patient encounter may involve cognitive biases such as gender or ascertainment bias in order to improve clinical decision-making and reduce diagnostic errors in the evaluation of women with ACS.
- Provider:The Sullivan Group
- Activity Link: https://www.thesullivangroup.com/RSQSolutions/course-purchase-home/
- Start Date: 2023-10-23 05:00:00
- End Date: 2023-10-23 05:00:00
- Credit Details: AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™️: 2.0 hours
- Commercial Support: No
- Activity Type: Enduring Material
- CME Finder Type: Online Learning
- Fee to Participate: Variable
- Measured Outcome: Learner Competence, Learner Knowledge, Learner Performance, Patient Health
- Provider Ship: Directly Provided
- Registration: Open to all