Life with and without heart disease among women and men over 50

J Women Aging. 2008;20(1-2):5-19. doi: 10.1300/j074v20n01_02.

Abstract

This article uses a demographic approach and data from the Health and Retirement Survey, a nationally representative sample of the U.S. population, to investigate sex differences in the length of life lived with heart disease and after a heart attack for persons in the United States age 50 and older. On average, women live longer than men with heart disease. At age 50 women can expect to live 7.9 years and men 6.7 years with heart disease. The average woman experiences heart disease onset three years older and heart attacks 4.4 years older than men.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Activities of Daily Living*
  • Aged
  • Female
  • Health Status*
  • Heart Diseases / epidemiology*
  • Humans
  • Life Expectancy*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Myocardial Infarction / epidemiology
  • Patient Education as Topic
  • Prejudice
  • Risk Factors
  • United States / epidemiology
  • Women's Health Services / organization & administration
  • Women's Health*