Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading killer of Australian women, despite perceptions they are less at risk than men, a study has found.

CVD and associated diseases such as diabetes and kidney failure contribute to at least 31,000 female deaths each year, and more than 3000 women die without reaching a hospital, according to research from the Mary MacKillop Institute for Health Research at the Australian Catholic University.

“The large majority of Australian women are still under the impression heart disease and stroke are male diseases,” lead investigator Simon Stewart says.

“This is simply not true and, without urgent education, more Australian women are at risk of falling victim to this killer, particularly with their current high-cardiovascular-risk lifestyles.”

Poor representation of women in clinical trials for new therapies, and the resulting male-centric treatment, also presents a significant barrier to effective management and prevention.

The report says a recent annual survey on Australian women’s health found their top concerns were weight management, cancer, mental and emotional health, menopause and chronic pain.

Professor Stewart says despite the high prevalence of CVD in women aged 35 and above, low awareness means many ignore warning signs before suffering fatal and disabling events.

The annual patient cost of managing CVD in women is estimated at more than $3 billion.

Recommendations in the report include an awareness campaign and more studies to provide accurate information and quantify the problem.

Investment in prevention programs and research, and improved expert guidelines for treating and managing CVD in women are also needed, the report says.