Cause disparities in coronary heart disease between genders

Abstract. Limited studies investigated the differences between the causes of coronary heart disease in men and women. While some focused on one gender or the other, minimal studies indeed examined the differences in the significance of each of the common risk factors present in both genders. Thus, this study intends to do just that. This study uses data from the Framingham Heart Study, a long-term cardiovascular cohort study of the residents of Framingham, Massachusetts. A variety of factors were considered in examining the risk of coronary heart disease, including gender, age, and previous medical history. Exploratory data analysis and regression analysis were used to reveal the differences between men and women in determining the risk of coronary heart disease. Through regression analysis, apparent differences between males and females arose. Significant factors for men included age, systolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, and glucose levels, and significant factors for women additionally included the number of cigarettes smoked per day as well as a previous history of hypertension. The Framingham Heart Study has demonstrated the distinctions between men and women when it comes to the risks of coronary heart disease, allowing physicians to gain a deeper understanding of the disease. However, it fails to be inclusive of all races and ethnicities as participants in the first cohort and many later cohorts of the study were all Caucasian. This study also calls for future studies to build off the Framingham Heart Studys shortcomings and provide data and standards suitable for everyone.