The primary objective of this document is to stimulate improvements in women’s health
conditions in Brazil, with a focus on cardiovascular disease (CVD), which is
responsible for 17.5 million premature deaths yearly worldwide. This number is
predicted to increase to 23 million by 2030. CVD are responsible for one third of
all deaths in Brazil, with similarities between men and postmenopausal women. These
data assume even greater importance when we consider that 80% of premature deaths
could have been avoided by controlling four risk factors: tobacco use, inappropriate
diet, physical inactivity, and harmful alcohol use.[1]This document further aims to create a permanent discussion group that will play a
leadership role in Brazilian healthcare policies, providing administrators with an
overall view of the relevance of CVD to women so that they may establish strategic
actions to reduce the prevalence of risk factors and improve diagnosis and
therapeutic approach, thus reducing mortality and morbidity.
Foreword
Considering that the burden of chronic noncommunicable diseases (CNCD), of which
CVD are the main component, will continue to grow significantly in Brazil and
worldwide; in line with the global target of a 25% reduction in premature
mortality from noncommunicable diseases by 2025 as established by the World
Health Assembly (WHA);[2] and in
accordance with the United Nations High-level Meeting on the Prevention and
Control of Noncommunicable Diseases, we endorse the measures proposed by this
Assembly which reunited the cardiology societies of the Rio de Janeiro
Letter,[3] also
highlighting the importance of goals to be met for women, who currently
represent 48% of the 7.7 billion inhabitants of the world and 47% of the
202,768,562 individuals who compose the population of Brazil, as of April
2019.[4]In recognition of the fact that, predominantly among younger doctors, the
proportion of women doctors has increased over the past years, going from 22% in
1910 to 45.6% in 2018, and considering the fact that this increase has been less
accelerated among women cardiologists, where women currently represent
approximately 30% of the total,[5] we highlight the importance of promoting activities whose
aim is to multiply healthcare opportunities from women’s point of view, allowing
for the integration and exchange of experience which will amplify improvements
in daily clinical practice.Emphasizing that the presence of women in science today corresponds to 28% of
researchers worldwide, according to UNESCO, and 49% in Brazil,[6] with less than one quarter of
speakers at scientific events being women, in addition to the low representation
of women in clinical trials which determine therapies to be used, we propose
that forums be held, wherein it will be possible to discuss cost-effective,
short- and long-term measures to decrease these inequalities, as well as
affirmative policies which may accelerate women’s representation in science and
clinical research.In conclusion, knowing the relevance of the role which medical societies and
their associates play as critical agents for paradigm change and the
establishment of multiple partnerships, we call on these entities to be
protagonists in the elaboration of documents which will act as tools to
accelerate these results.
Deliberations
To work collectively to defend global goals for the prevention and
control of CNCD, especially CVD, in Brazilian women.To establish cardiovascular prevention campaigns, promoting efforts
consistent with the global goal of 25% reduction in mortality rates
by 2025.To perform critical analyses of health statistics and to implement
registers capable of evaluating and measuring cardiovascular health
issues, so that there may be improvements in strategic health
actions.To elaborate and suggest government policies to promote appropriate
environments for reducing exposure to risks, facilitating the
population’s adoption of healthy habits in school, work, and leisure
environments, with the aim of combating CVD in women.To work and act together with governments for the development and
application of cardiovascular prevention programs, in addition to
incorporating cost-effective technologies to reduce CVD morbidity
and mortality.To involve patients with CVD and diverse segments of civil society in
formulating, implementing, and reviewing policies, legislation, and
discussion on strategies which may lead to improvements in women’s
healthcare.To develop collaborative projects through scientific societies which
may aggregate different forms of knowledge in order to reduce
genders inequalities.To provide the highest level of continuing medical education, to
promote technical, scientific, cultural, and social exchanges
between cardiologists in Brazil and worldwide, and to cultivate the
scientific knowledge necessary to increase women’s participation in
science, scientific events, and health and related sciences.To mobilize means of communication in order to bring continual
information on the importance of CVD in women, as well as its
primary risk factors and forms of prevention, thus amplifying the
transmission of the importance of early diagnosis to the general
population.To create an international permanent discussion forum in order to
monitor actions with the aim of preventing, diagnosing, and treating
cardiovascular risk factors.To stimulate actively the greater participation of women
cardiologists in Executive Boards of Representative Bodies, so that
they may have the same rights and remuneration in the diverse
aspects of their medical careers.