title: Women and heart disease, the underrecognized burden: sex differences, biases, and unmet clinical and research challenges.
abstract: For many years the significance of heart disease in women was vastly underappreciated, and women were significantly underrepresented in cardiovascular clinical research. We now know that cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death for women. Women and men share many similarities in the pathophysiology and manifestations of heart disease. However, as research advances with the continued inclusion of more women, knowledge about gender differences between the female and male heart, both on a physiological and pathophysiological basis, grows. These differences can be found in all domains of cardiovascular health and disease, including heart rhythm, heart failure, coronary disease and valvular disease. Further understanding of gender differences in the heart is crucial for advancing our ability to maintain a healthy population and identify and treat heart disease in both women and men. Specific examples within the spectrum of heart disease will be discussed in this review paper, and areas for further research will be proposed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Emory University School of Medicine, 1639 Pierce Dr, WMB 308, Atlanta, GA 30322, U.S.A. swester@emory.edu.
authors.forename: Stacy
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Westerman
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Emory University School of Medicine, 1639 Pierce Dr, WMB 308, Atlanta, GA 30322, U.S.A.
authors.forename: Nanette K
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Wenger
mesh_terms: D015982:Bias; D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000639:trends*; D002309:Cardiology / Q000639:trends*; D002423:Cause of Death; D003326:Coronary Circulation; D005260:Female; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D054625:Healthcare Disparities; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D013318:Stroke Volume; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left; D016387:Women's Health / Q000639:trends*
keywords: atherosclerosis; heart failure; heart rhythm; sex differences; women