Heart Foundation head of clinical Natalie Raffoul said PMOS was formerly known as polycystic ovarian syndrome before being renamed in May.
“It is a new name for the condition and the reason it was renamed was because there is growing momentum and recognition that this condition, although it is hormonal, although it is one of the most common reproductive conditions for women in Australia, it is also a whole-of-body, whole-of-life condition,” Ms Raffoul said.
“The estimate comes from a global figure, but it is one that we believe rings true for Australia, and that is one in eight women are thought to have PMOS.
“It can be undiagnosed itself, so that is why that is an estimate.”
Ms Raffoul said the research reinforced the need for earlier identification of cardiovascular risk in women with PMOS.
“Once upon a time, we thought that PMOS, or as it was known PCOS, increased a woman’s risk of developing cardiovascular disease by increasing her blood pressure or her cholesterol, or linked with obesity or insulin insensitivity,” she said.
“But now we are finding more and more data suggesting that actually the condition itself, PMOS, is linked with up to a fourfold higher risk of cardiovascular disease in the future for women.”
Ms Raffoul said women with PMOS should flag the condition with their doctor.
“Being aware you may require more regular and perhaps earlier screening of your cardiovascular health, which might include blood pressure checks, cholesterol checks, diabetes checks and overall clinical assessment by a doctor,” she said.
“Formal assessment of your cardiovascular risk or your heart health should start from about 45, but if you have PMOS or other factors that might increase your risk, such as a family history of premature heart disease, you should have your heart checked earlier.”
Ms Raffoul said PMOS was not the only women-specific risk factor that was under-recognised.
“Other things include experiencing complications during pregnancy, like gestational diabetes or preeclampsia or high blood pressure during your pregnancy, may actually significantly increase your risk of developing heart disease in the future,” she said.
“We also know that premature menopause is possibly linked with increased risk of cardiovascular disease in the future.”
She said women were also more likely than men to experience non-chest pain symptoms during a heart attack, including nausea, dizziness, fatigue, and neck, back, shoulder and jaw pain.
“A lot of women misclassify or don’t even realise that the symptoms they’re having are actually related to a heart attack, and we’d like to raise more awareness about that,” Ms Raffoul said.
Women who think they are at risk of cardiovascular disease due to PMOS, or any other risk factor, can consult their GP for a heart health check.
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