New International Study Reveals Significant Knowledge Gaps Regarding Menopause and Heart Health in Women

A recent international study published in BMC Women’s Health highlights substantial gaps in how midlife women understand cardiovascular risks and navigate menopause. Conducted as part of the Horizon Europe project known as CARAMEL, the study analyzed survey responses from 7,470 women aged 40 to 60 across Ireland, Spain, Greece, Croatia, Lithuania, and Colombia. Researchers in Trinity College Dublin’s School of Nursing and Midwifery led the data analysis, alongside interviews and co-design workshops held in all six participating nations.

Alarming Gaps in Cardiovascular Awareness

The findings indicate that only about half of the participating women—specifically 48%—recognized that heart disease is the leading cause of death among women. Awareness levels varied widely by geographic location, ranging from roughly two-thirds of participants in Ireland down to fewer than one in five in Colombia. Furthermore, while most respondents were familiar with classic cardiac risk factors like high blood pressure and being overweight, they displayed much lower awareness of gender-specific factors. Fewer than half understood that entering menopause early elevates cardiovascular risk, and half of the participants whose personal risk factors placed them in a high-risk category failed to perceive their own vulnerability.

Communication Barriers Between Patients and Clinicians

The research uncovered a widespread hesitation among patients and providers to initiate discussions about cardiovascular health. Nearly half of the surveyed women had not talked about their heart with a healthcare professional in the preceding year. This communication gap included approximately 30% of participants who had already received a high blood pressure diagnosis. When asked why, many women stated that they simply expected their doctor or nurse to bring the topic up first. Similar communication hurdles affected menopause management, with nearly a third of women reporting no professional conversations on the subject over the past year.

Prevalence of Overlooked Symptoms

In addition to cardiovascular risks, the study documented a high burden of midlife symptoms that extend far beyond well-known hot flashes. Fatigue affected 70% of participants, while roughly two-thirds reported sleep problems and mood swings. Approximately half experienced brain fog and anxiety. Moreover, while nearly all women recognized chest pain as a warning sign of a heart attack, far fewer were familiar with subtler indicators that frequently manifest in women, such as unusual fatigue, nausea, indigestion, and anxiety.

Interest in Digital Health Tools

Despite low current utilization—with only 5% having ever used an app for menopause information—two-thirds of the women expressed interest in receiving guidance through a digital platform. Participants emphasized a desire for practical advice concerning symptoms, sleep, diet, and exercise, delivered through an intuitive interface without commercial ads or heavy data tracking. Researchers note that addressing these widespread educational and communicative shortcomings is essential for improving midlife preventive care.

• Study analyzed 7,470 women aged 40 to 60 across six countries.
• Only 48% knew heart disease is the leading cause of death for women.
• Nearly half of the participants had not discussed heart health with a clinician in the past year.