Changing the trajectory of ischemic heart disease in women: Role of imaging.

Mortality from coronary artery disease in women declined from nearly 500,000 deaths in 2000 to 398,096 deaths in 2013. Despite these significant gains, cardiovascular disease mortality in women remains unacceptably high. Much additional progress in awareness, evaluation, and management of cardiovascular diseases is needed. Progress in cardiovascular imaging, over the past four decades, has substantially improved the evaluation and management of ischemic heart disease. Ischemic heart disease is now diagnosed early and with greater accuracy, leading to improved risk assessment and timely therapies. The next gains in ischemic heart disease mortality in women will probably be due to application of these imaging advances in a personalized fashion. Thoughtful leaders provide their viewpoints on the use of imaging in the evaluation and management of ischemic heart disease in women.