title: Women at risk of coronary heart disease experience barriers to diagnosis and treatment: a qualitative interview study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore barriers in the health service to diagnosis and treatment experienced by women at increased risk of coronary heart disease (CHD).
  
  
  METHODS
  Qualitative study using semi-structured interviews.
  
  
  METHODS
  Norway.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty women diagnosed with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) recruited through a lipid clinic.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Women reported three specific barriers related to diagnosis and treatment of CHD. They had to struggle to take a cholesterol test; they experienced that their risk was being downplayed by doctors; and that their symptoms of CHD were misinterpreted when they consulted doctors for evaluation and treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Stereotyping CHD as a man's disease may result in barriers to diagnosis and treatment for women. Doctors should ask the patient about the family history of CHD if a concern about heart disease is on the patient's agenda.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Practice and Community Medicine, University of Oslo, Norway. jancf@medisin.uio.no
authors.forename: Jan C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Frich
authors.forename: Kirsti
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Malterud
authors.forename: Per
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fugelli
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D003144:Communication Barriers; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006938:Hyperlipoproteinemia Type II / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009664:Norway; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D013240:Stereotyping; D016387:Women's Health
chemical_list: D008078:Cholesterol, LDL