Heart Disease Risk Strikes Men Earlier Than Women

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Chicago: Men are still developing heart disease significantly earlier than women, despite advances in awareness and treatment, according to findings from a major long-running cardiovascular study that tracked participants for more than 30 years.

Researchers analysing health data from over 5,000 adults found that men begin showing measurable signs of cardiovascular disease as early as their mid-30s, while women typically reach comparable risk levels nearly a decade later. The research focused on the progression of coronary heart disease, a leading cause of heart attacks and heart-related deaths worldwide.

The study revealed that men reached a 5 per cent probability of cardiovascular disease roughly seven years earlier than women, and the gap widened further when examining coronary artery disease alone. By their early 40s, many men already showed early structural or clinical indicators of heart disease, while women’s risk rose more gradually, often accelerating only after menopause.

Importantly, scientists found that commonly known risk factors including smoking, high blood pressure, obesity and diabetes did not fully explain the difference in timing between men and women. Even after accounting for these factors, men’s cardiovascular risk climbed sooner, suggesting that biological differences, hormonal protection in women, and lifestyle patterns may all play a role.

The researchers also noted that while heart attacks and coronary disease appeared earlier in men, stroke rates were broadly similar between the sexes, and heart failure tended to develop later in life for both groups. This distinction underscores the need for sex-specific approaches to cardiovascular prevention.

Medical experts say the findings raise questions about current screening guidelines, which often recommend routine heart health checks beginning in middle age. The study suggests that earlier screening and preventive measures for men, possibly starting in their 30s, could help reduce long-term cardiovascular damage.

At the same time, specialists caution that women should not underestimate their own risk. Although heart disease develops later on average, it remains the leading cause of death among women globally, and symptoms can present differently, sometimes leading to delayed diagnosis.

Researchers emphasised that the results reinforce the importance of early lifestyle interventions, including regular exercise, balanced diets, smoking cessation and blood pressure monitoring, particularly for younger men who may not yet consider themselves at risk.