Coronary heart disease is not just a man's disease

British Heart Foundation

More men had their body mass index - a measure of obesity - recorded in their notes, and doctors were also more likely to write down if they smoked, and take a blood pressure reading.

These are all measures which can help doctors predict if someone is at risk of heart disease.

Fewer women had their cholesterol measured by a doctor, and had a recorded diagnosis of high cholesterol levels written in their notes.

A far higher proportion of women had a high cholesterol reading, but only 21% of women in the study were prescribed statins to try to correct this, as opposed to 31% of men.

'No misconceptions'

The study's authors comment: "These differences suggest a systematic bias towards men in terms of secondary prevention of ischaemic heart disease."

Women who actually have recognised heart problems fare little better.

Other studies have shown that women with heart problems are less likely to be referred to a specialist and less likely to get a heart bypass graft.

The British Heart Foundation spokesman: "We believes that all heart patients, irrespective of their gender, age or ethnicity, should be treated as an individual case and receive the same quality of care.

"This new research reflects the need for both the general public and healthcare professionals to become more aware about the risks of coronary heart disease and the way that symptoms are presented - in men and women.

"It is also vital that GPs and nurses working in primary care do not have entrenched attitudes and misconceptions about women and heart disease."

The research is published in the British Medical Journal.