Men Develop Cardiovascular Disease 7 Years Earlier Than Women, Study Finds

Researchers say the gap is driven largely by coronary heart disease, which appears a decade sooner in men.

Feb. 3, 2026 at 4:15pm

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A new study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association has found that men tend to develop cardiovascular disease about seven years earlier than women. The difference is primarily driven by coronary heart disease, which appears roughly a decade sooner in men than in women. The study followed over 5,000 adults in the U.S. for more than 30 years and found that the risk of cardiovascular disease begins to diverge between men and women around age 35, with men consistently having a higher risk through middle age.

Why it matters

This study highlights an important gender gap in heart health, with men facing increased vulnerability to cardiovascular disease at younger ages. Understanding the factors behind this disparity could lead to earlier prevention and intervention efforts to improve outcomes for both men and women.

The details

The researchers found that by age 50, about 5% of men had developed some form of cardiovascular disease, compared to women reaching that same incidence rate around age 57. The largest gap was in coronary heart disease, with men reaching a 2% risk 10 years earlier than women. However, the study found little to no difference between men and women in the age of stroke or heart failure onset.

  • The study followed participants from 1985-1986, when they were 18-30 years old, until August 2020, when the oldest participants were around 65.
  • The researchers found the risk of cardiovascular disease began to diverge between men and women around age 35.

The players

Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) study

A long-term study that followed over 5,000 Black and white adults across the United States for more than 30 years.

Dr. Brett Sealove

Chair of cardiology at Hackensack Meridian Jersey Shore University Medical Center.

Dr. Kim Eagle

Cardiologist and director of the University of Michigan Health Frankel Cardiovascular Center.

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What they’re saying

“The study supports that men waiting until middle age to assess cardiovascular risk miss a critical window for prevention.”

— Dr. Brett Sealove, Chair of cardiology at Hackensack Meridian Jersey Shore University Medical Center (Live Science)

“The study is not practice-changing and I worry that many may conclude that heart disease is predominantly a male problem.”

— Dr. Kim Eagle, Cardiologist and director of the University of Michigan Health Frankel Cardiovascular Center (Live Science)

What’s next

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The takeaway

This study highlights an important gender gap in heart health that deserves further investigation. While men may face increased vulnerability to cardiovascular disease at younger ages, heart disease remains a leading killer of both men and women, underscoring the need for comprehensive prevention and treatment efforts across the population.