Coronary artery disease in climacteric and social exclusion

Abstract

Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) is a multifactorial disease and many of the risk factors for its development, linked to biological aspects, have been well studied and their importance measured. On the other hand, the study of the social determinants of this disease (that is responsible for the highest number of deaths in the city of São Paulo) has been neglected. This is an area of great importance and social impact especially in developing countries. Women, in particular, are living longer now, and they may face the disease and survive many years after menopause. In Brazil, research about this theme is in its early phases and the importance of CAD in women still is underestimated, even when statistical data show that it has been increasing. This descriptive research aimed to establish the relationship between the socio-economic-cultural profile and social exclusion indicators in women after menopause and with CAD in treatment at the Coronary Diseases clinic of Instituto Dante Pazzanese de Cardiologia. The results could help us to better understand the disease and the patients' needs and point out effective actions to guide secondary prevention programs. The dialog between different areas of knowledge, such as Medicine, History, and Social Work, enabled a broad understanding of the studied phenomena, bringing to light social exclusion and gender discrimination aspects experienced by the patients that, till that time, had not been known and valued by the multidisciplinary team.