Women had fewer plaques than men (55 per cent versus 75 per cent) and smaller plaque volumes, but their hearts appeared more sensitive to plaque. For women, the risk of major cardiovascular events began to rise at 20 per cent total plaque burden, compared with 28 per cent in men. “Heart disease in women needs to be recognised early, understood better and treated with approaches designed specifically for women. Until this study, it was unclear whether cardiovascular risk rises proportionally across sexes. “Women tend to develop heart disease at a younger age than their western counterparts.

Source: The Telegraph February 24, 2026 02:26 UTC