Disparities in ASCVD Affecting Women: A Call for Equity in 2025
Published: April 13th, 2025
by Garcia Family Medicine
At Garcia Family Medicine, we believe every woman deserves a healthy heart. Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD)—which includes conditions like heart attacks, strokes, and peripheral artery disease caused by plaque buildup in arteries—is a leading killer of women worldwide. Yet, not all women face the same risks or receive the same care. In 2025, disparities in ASCVD continue to highlight gaps in awareness, diagnosis, and treatment, especially for women of color, lower-income women, and those in underserved communities. If you’re worried about your heart health, call us at 816-427-5320—we’re here to help bridge the gap.
What Is ASCVD?
ASCVD occurs when fatty deposits clog arteries, reducing blood flow to vital organs like the heart and brain. It’s the most common form of cardiovascular disease and a major public health challenge. According to the American Heart Association (AHA), ASCVD accounts for 1 in 3 deaths among U.S. women—over 400,000 annually. But the burden isn’t evenly shared. Race, socioeconomic status, and gender intersect to create stark disparities, and at Garcia Family Medicine, we’re committed to addressing them.
How ASCVD Affects Women Differently
Women experience ASCVD differently than men, often with subtler symptoms like fatigue, shortness of breath, or nausea instead of the classic chest pain. A 2019 Circulation study found that women are 50% more likely to have atypical symptoms, delaying diagnosis. This is compounded by the fact that women develop ASCVD about 10 years later than men, typically after menopause, when estrogen’s protective effects wane. The Journal of the American College of Cardiology (JACC) reported in 2022 that post-menopausal women have a 50% higher mortality rate from heart attacks than men of the same age.
But gender is just the start—disparities deepen when we look at race, income, and access to care. Let’s explore the numbers and the stories they tell.
The Stats: Disparities Laid Bare
Here are 10 key statistics that reveal the unequal burden of ASCVD on women:
Overall Impact: The AHA (2023) states that 44% of U.S. women—nearly 60 million—live with cardiovascular disease, including ASCVD.
Racial Disparities: Black women have a 60% higher risk of dying from ASCVD than White women (CDC, 2023).
Mortality Gap: The Lancet (2021) found that cardiovascular disease kills 35% of women globally, with higher rates in low-income regions.
Young Women: A 2020 JACC study noted a 3% annual rise in ASCVD deaths among women aged 35-54 since 2010, especially among minorities.
Underdiagnosis: Women are 20% less likely to receive a timely ASCVD diagnosis (Circulation, 2019).
Treatment Disparities: Black women are 30% less likely to receive stents or bypass surgery than White women (Circulation, 2021).
Socioeconomic Factor: Women in the lowest income quartile have a 50% higher ASCVD risk (American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 2018).
Diabetes Impact: Diabetic women are 44% more likely to develop ASCVD than diabetic men (Diabetologia, 2016).
Stroke Disparities: Black women have a 2-fold higher stroke rate from ASCVD than White women (Stroke, 2020).
Access to Care: Only 38% of uninsured women receive preventive ASCVD screening (Health Affairs, 2022).
These numbers aren’t just data—they’re lives. At Garcia Family Medicine, we see the human side of these disparities every day.
Racial and Ethnic Disparities
Black, Hispanic, and Indigenous women bear a heavier ASCVD burden. The CDC reports that Black women have a 1.6 times higher ASCVD mortality rate than White women, driven by higher rates of hypertension (60% vs. 43%) and diabetes (13% vs. 7%). Hispanic women, while often having lower overall ASCVD rates, face barriers like language and lack of insurance—only 56% have regular access to care, per Health Affairs (2022). Indigenous women, meanwhile, have ASCVD death rates 20% above the national average, per the AHA (2023), often due to limited healthcare infrastructure in rural areas.
Why these gaps? Systemic issues like racism, poverty, and unequal healthcare access play a role. At Garcia Family Medicine, we’re working to change that—one patient at a time. Call us at 816-427-5320 if you need support.
Socioeconomic Challenges
Money matters when it comes to ASCVD. Women in poverty are more likely to smoke, eat unhealthy diets, and skip preventive care—all risk factors for ASCVD. The American Journal of Preventive Medicine (2018) found that low-income women have a 50% higher ASCVD risk, partly because only 1 in 3 can afford regular doctor visits. Uninsured women fare worse—Health Affairs (2022) notes that 62% miss out on cholesterol or blood pressure checks, key to catching ASCVD early.
Women-Specific Risks
Beyond race and income, women face unique biological risks. Pregnancy complications like preeclampsia triple ASCVD risk later in life, per a 2021 Heart, Lung and Circulation study, yet many women aren’t screened post-delivery. Menopause doubles the risk as estrogen drops (Circulation, 2018), and mental health stressors—more common in women—raise ASCVD odds by 30% (Current Atherosclerosis Reports, 2024). These factors often go unnoticed, especially in underserved groups.
Barriers to Diagnosis and Treatment
Even when women seek help, they hit roadblocks. A 2021 Circulation study found that Black women with ASCVD symptoms are 30% less likely to get invasive treatments like stents, often due to bias or lack of resources. Younger women, too, are dismissed—those under 50 with heart attacks have twice the mortality rate of men, per a 2016 Korean Circulation Journal report, because symptoms are misread as stress or hormonal issues.
Microvascular disease, where small heart vessels malfunction, also complicates diagnosis. Up to 50% of women with ASCVD symptoms have this condition (Circulation Research, 2016), but it’s harder to detect with standard tests. At Garcia Family Medicine, we dig deeper to ensure no woman is overlooked.
Closing the Gap: What We Can Do
Disparities won’t vanish overnight, but action starts now. Here’s how women can protect themselves:
Know Your Risks: Check family history, blood pressure, and cholesterol. The AHA says 80% of ASCVD is preventable.
Lifestyle Matters: A 2018 Circulation study found 30 minutes of daily exercise cuts ASCVD risk by 19%. Quitting smoking halves it within a year (CDC, 2023).
Advocate: If you feel dismissed, push for answers. Call us at 816-427-5320—we’ll listen.
Communities and healthcare systems must step up, too. More funding for women’s heart health research, culturally competent care, and affordable screenings can level the playing field.
Garcia Family Medicine: Your Partner in Heart Health
We’re here to fight ASCVD disparities with you. Our services include:
Tailored screenings for women of all backgrounds
Risk assessments factoring in race, income, and life stages
Affordable care options and community outreach
A compassionate team ready to advocate for you
In 2025, we’re doubling down on equity. Whether you’re a Black woman with hypertension, a Hispanic mom post-pregnancy, or anyone feeling unheard, call us at 816-427-5320. Your heart deserves care that sees you.
A Heartfelt Call to Action
ASCVD doesn’t hit all women equally, but every woman can take control. With 1 in 4 female deaths tied to cardiovascular disease (AHA, 2023), the time to act is now. At Garcia Family Medicine, we’re breaking down barriers so every woman gets the care she needs. Don’t let disparities define your health—call us at 816-427-5320 today. Together, we can build a future where every heart thrives.
References
American Heart Association (2023). Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics—2023 Update.
CDC (2023). Racial Disparities in Heart Disease Among Women.
The Lancet (2021). Women and Cardiovascular Disease: Global Burden.
Journal of the American College of Cardiology (2020). ASCVD in Young Women: Trends.
Circulation (2019). Gender Differences in ASCVD Diagnosis.
Circulation (2021). Racial Disparities in ASCVD Treatment.
American Journal of Preventive Medicine (2018). Socioeconomic Status and ASCVD Risk.
Diabetologia (2016). Diabetes and ASCVD in Women vs. Men.
Stroke (2020). Racial Disparities in Stroke Among Women.
Health Affairs (2022). Access to Preventive Care Among Uninsured Women.
Disclaimer: This blog is for informational purposes only. Consult a doctor for medical advice. Call Garcia Family Medicine at 816-427-5320 for personalized care.
