A new report released this week claimed that more middle-aged women are dying due to heart disease. Although the rate of cardiovascular-related illnesses has declined in the last decade, only female death counts increased compared to other age and gender groups. On Wednesday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a report that indicated more middle-aged women die because of heart diseases. After a decade of decreasing deaths caused by the illness, constant and non-declining rates of women aged between 20 and 44 including those aged 65 and above die because of the condition. It was highlighted that the positive trend started declining from 2011 to 2017 when death rates due to heart disease increased by 4 percent. The report also indicated that there is further research needed to get a grasp on what causes the increased death rates in middle-aged adults. A cardiologist from Mayo Clinic in Minnesota Dr. Sharonne Hayes told NBC News that there have been hints over the years about this age group’s mortality rates and that there are likely more causes that contribute to the rise. Some of which are diabetes, sedentary lifestyle and obesity since more people have also been suffering from these conditions and that they are considered symptoms that cause heart disease. Other factors were also considered such as lack of access to insurance and expensive medical care. Hayes noted that middle-aged people face these conditions commonly than other aged groups unlike adults aged 65 and up who have underlying insurance plans with Medicare. Younger adults also receive health insurances as a work benefit while more middle-aged adults were said to have lost access to insurance. Although the study focused on women, it was revealed that middle-aged men are more likely to die due to the disease as well, but the number of deaths among women increased by seven percent while the increase in men amounted to only a three percent increase. Hayes then suspected that the treatments patients opt for while suffering from the disease may only apply to men and less effective for women. Hayes also claimed that this generation may be at higher risk of dying from heart disease compared to their parents. In particular, women aged 45 to 64 were said to have increased at twice the rate compared to other age groups. Source
