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Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in the United States (Figure 1-1).1 The burden of CVD is shared by men and women alike (Figures 1-2 and 1-3), although CVD's impact on women has been traditionally underappreciated. For far too long, women were not represented in major cardiovascular trials (Figure 1-4 and Table 1-1).2 In addition, both patients and physicians have displayed a lack of awareness regarding CVD's prevalence in women, although this scenario is changing now (Figure 1-5).3,4 The pathophysiology of CVD has unique characteristics in women. Furthermore, as women are increasingly being included in cardiovascular trials, management strategies specific to women are being defined.5,6,7,8,9 In this Atlas and Synopsis of Women's Cardiovascular Health, we hope to highlight the impact of CVD on women, its unique characteristics in women, and important topics in CVD that have female-specific management strategies.
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