Men begin developing coronary heart disease – which can lead to heart attacks – years earlier than women, with differences emerging as early as the mid-30s, according to a large, long-term study led by Northwestern Medicine.
The findings, based on more than three decades of patient follow-up, suggest that heart disease prevention and screening should start earlier in adulthood, particularly for men.
That timing may seem early, but heart disease develops over decades, with early markers detectable in young adulthood. Screening at an earlier age can help identify risk factors sooner, enabling preventive strategies that reduce long-term risk.”
Alexa Freedman, Study Senior Author and Assistant Professor, Preventive Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University
Older studies have…