Summary

Based on 2003 mortality data, 1 in 3 women are at risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD); this translates into more lives claimed by CVD than the next 5 leading causes of death combined. Currently, the best tool available for estimating a woman's risk factor is the Framingham Risk Score, yet most women under 70 years of age are classified as low risk using this method. These observations have prompted clinicians to incorporate other factors, such as family history and obesity (not considered in the Framingham Risk Score), to predict overall risk. Additionally, there has been recent interest in identifying novel risk markers that improve traditional risk factor assessment in a cost effective way.