#1025 Women’s Coronary Heart Disease (17 Credits/Hours)

(17 Credits/Hours)

Launch Date: August 5, 2025
Expires: August 31, 2027

Course Overview

This comprehensive course examines coronary heart disease (CHD) specifically as it affects women, addressing the unique epidemiological, pathophysiological, clinical, and therapeutic considerations that distinguish women’s cardiovascular health from traditional male-centered cardiac care models. The course emphasizes evidence-based approaches to prevention, diagnosis, and treatment while highlighting the critical gaps in research and clinical practice that have historically underserved women with coronary artery disease.

Table of Contents

1. Epidemiology and Burden of Coronary Heart Disease in Women
2. Sex-Specific Risk Factors for Coronary Heart Disease
3. Pathophysiology of Coronary Artery Disease in Women
4. Clinical Presentation and Symptomatology in Women
5. Diagnostic Challenges and Gender Bias in Cardiac Care
6. Non-Invasive Cardiac Testing and Imaging in Women
7. Invasive Cardiac Procedures and Interventional Cardiology
8. Hormonal Influences on Cardiovascular Health
9. Pregnancy-Related Cardiovascular Complications
10. Medical Management and Pharmacotherapy Considerations
11. Lifestyle Interventions and Primary Prevention Strategies
12. Special Populations: Elderly Women and Comorbid Conditions
13. Emerging Therapies and Future Directions in Women’s Cardiac Care

 Learning Objectives
Upon completing this course, you will be able to:

• Analyze the epidemiological patterns and burden of coronary heart disease specific to women across different age groups and populations
• Identify and evaluate traditional and non-traditional risk factors that disproportionately affect women’s cardiovascular health
• Explain the pathophysiological differences in coronary artery disease development and progression between men and women
• Recognize atypical presentations of acute coronary syndromes in women and understand the implications for timely diagnosis
• Critically assess the limitations of current diagnostic tools and develop strategies to overcome gender bias in cardiac care
• Select appropriate non-invasive testing modalities based on women-specific considerations and pre-test probability
• Understand the indications, benefits, and risks of invasive cardiac procedures in female patients
• Evaluate the complex relationship between hormonal status and cardiovascular risk throughout a woman’s lifespan
• Recognize and manage pregnancy-related cardiovascular complications and their long-term implications
• Design evidence-based treatment plans incorporating sex-specific pharmacological considerations
• Develop comprehensive prevention strategies addressing lifestyle factors particularly relevant to women
• Adapt care approaches for elderly women and those with multiple comorbidities
• Stay current with emerging research and therapeutic innovations in women’s cardiovascular medicine