Critical age point named for sharp increase in heart attack risk in men

Scientists found out: heart diseases strike men years earlier than women. Differences in risks appear already at 35 years. The study, stretched over decades, is published in the authoritative Journal of the American Heart Association (JAHA).

The large-scale CARDIA study (Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults), which started in the mid-1980s, allowed researchers to track the fate of more than 5,100 initially healthy Americans over 35 years. Observations were conducted on participants from youth to mature age — from 18-30 years until 2020.

The results were impressive: men reach the dangerous 5 percent threshold for cardiovascular disease risk by approximately 50.5 years, while women only by 57.5 years. The seven-year difference was not coincidental.

The gender gap is especially noticeable with ischemic heart disease — men face a 2 percent risk a whole decade earlier than women. Meanwhile, the probability of stroke is almost identical for both sexes, and differences in heart failure risk appear significantly later.

Scientists tried to determine the causes of such early disease development in men by analyzing classic risk factors: cholesterol, blood pressure, smoking, diabetes, diet, physical activity, and weight. Hypertension proved to be a significant factor, however, known factors could not fully explain such a substantial difference.

This suggests the existence of additional biological and social mechanisms not yet fully understood by science.

The real discovery was finding a critical point around the age of 35. Before this age, risks for men and women are practically no different, but then for men they begin to increase rapidly, maintaining elevated values throughout life.

The problem is compounded by the fact that most preventive programs target people over 40, which may mean missed opportunities for early intervention.

"Encouraging preventive visits among young men may be an important opportunity to reduce their long-term cardiovascular risk," notes Friedman.

The authors emphasized that cardiovascular diseases remain the leading cause of death for both men and women, and prevention is important for everyone — it's just that it might need to be started earlier than commonly thought.