Departing from Cannes, a bus to encourage women to take care of their hearts

Since Wednesday and until Friday, this pink bus has been installed with a tent village on the port of Cannes, a stone’s throw from the Palais des Festivals, in a festive atmosphere but with a somber message.

The leading cause of death for women in France

“Every day on average, two women die from road accidents, 33 from breast cancer and 200 from cardiovascular disease.“, explains Thierry Drihlon, business leader and co-founder in 2020 of the “Agir pour le cœur des femmes” endowment fund.

Infarction, stroke or even pulmonary embolisms are “the leading cause of death of women in France and yet prevention is possible” to limit the risks and the after-effects, he insists.

Through poignant videos on social networks, the organization first seeks to raise awareness, recalling that women aged 45 to 54 are the category where heart attacks are increasing sharply.

And they remain very misdiagnosed, because women – and some caregivers – do not recognize the symptoms. Indeed, a female heart attack is sometimes announced by difficulty breathing, gastric problems, migraines or fatigue during exercise.

Faced with this situation, the “women’s heart bus” will crisscross France, as it has since 2021, to meet them: after Cannes, more than fifteen stages of three days each are planned, in the spring and at fall, in cities of all sizes.

Each time, the village is run by local actors in order to establish a lasting link, and some 250 women, often referred by the Primary Health Insurance Fund (CPAM) or social organizations, can follow a screening course: interview with a doctor, blood pressure measurement, electrocardiogram, Doppler ultrasound of the carotids, express blood test, gynecological interview with a midwife, etc.

“Professionals who listen”

Between the bus and the different tents, women come and go, their small files in hand, waiting if necessary on deckchairs, while a loudspeaker broadcasts Edith Piaf and Zaz.

“I’m 45 years old, I needed to take stock“, explains a Tunisian caregiver invited by her social center, recognizing that if she often saw her family doctor, it was mainly for her three children.

“It’s very well done, privacy and modesty are respected, people listen“, testifies a young 63-year-old retiree, who came after seeing a prospectus at the town hall: “I was more tired, my legs hurt, I’m a smoker, I wanted to control. But here it’s difficult to get an appointment“.

At the end of the course, a final interview with a doctor allows a summary of the risks, a small diagram to support it, and to guide the patient if necessary.

Of the 10,000 women who have passed by this bus since 2021, 90% had at least two cardiovascular risk factors and 50% also had two gynecological risk factors, very often unsuitable contraception.

A quarter benefited from follow-up in hospital or in the office, or even immediate hospitalization if necessary, notes Professor Claire Mounier-Vehier, cardiologist at Lille University Hospital and other co-founder of Agir pour le coeur des femmes.

In the tent village, professionals and associations are already there to talk about dietetics, addictions, the fight against violence or even to introduce women to cardiac massage, sophrology…

A shortened detection route has also recently been offered in hospitals on the occasion of “women’s heart days”, to promote the culture of prevention within healthcare settings.

Slide: 16 tips to prevent cardiovascular disease