Heart disease is the leading cause of death in women, with coronary artery disease being the major cause of heart-related deaths. There are some factors unique to women that influence the occurrence of these diseases. Among them, premature menopause, early menarche, gestational diabetes and preeclampsia, polycystic ovarian disease with metabolic syndrome, premature ovarian insufficiency, and the use of oral contraceptives in those with other cardiac risk factors all increase the probability of a woman developing coronary artery disease.
Though usually the coronary artery disease has an onset later by 10 years than men, if these risk factors are present, they may occur early. Though hormones provide unique protection to women before menopause, currently there is no indication for giving hormone replacement exclusively to prevent cardiovascular diseases. Some diseases more common in women, like autoimmune diseases (SLE, Rheumatoid arthritis), can cause early onset of coronary artery disease. Treatment for breast cancer, which involves chemotherapy, can cause heart failure and coronary artery disease.
