[US] NIH is Neglecting Heart Disease in Men

Date: 10/10/02 7:25:45 PM Central Daylight Time
From: eba@intr.net (eba12002)
Reply-to: menshealth@yahoogroups.com
To: menshealth@yahoogroups.com

WE STOPPED CEDAW, WHY NOT NHLBI? [National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute]

Maybe you're getting tired of hearing about the unfair treatment of men at the NIH. But there's something very important that's at stake here: men's lives -- maybe the life of someone you know.

So I'd like to ask you to give this one last shot. We will be following up in the next few weeks, so the more letters and e-mails that come in now, the more doors will open to us when we come knocking.

Please send this letter to your Senators and Representative. And for good measure, why not e-mail a copy to Dr. L'Enfant at lenfantc@nhlbi.nih.gov?

October 10, 2002

The Honorable _________
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510

or

The Honorable __________
United States House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515

RE: NIH is Neglecting Heart Disease in Men

Dear Congressman:

According to the National Center for Health Statistics, men have almost a 50% higher death rate from heart disease than women. In 1999, the death rate was 328/100,000 in men; and 221/100,000 in women.

Logically, we should be offering special programs for men to reduce this gender gap.

But somehow, the NIH National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute got it all wrong. Instead of targeting men, they have developed heart health programs for women. For example, NHLBI recently announced a Women's Heart Health Awareness Campaign (www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/hearttruth), an effort that defies common sense.

Additionally, male participation in NHLBI research studies is lagging: 68% female, compared to 32% male enrollments (www.nhlbi.nih.gov/resources/docs/plandisp.htm).

These numbers reveal that the NHLBI is in direct violation of the NIH Revitalization Act of 1994, and regulations published in the Federal Register on March 28, 1994, p. 14508, which are intended to assure equal participation of both men and women in medical research studies.

As we prepare for the upcoming November elections, I would like to ask you to contact Dr. Claude L'Enfant at the NHLBI. Please ask him, "Why do men's hearts count for less?"

Sincerely,

cc: Dr. Claude L'Enfant

Additional US heart disease statistics

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