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Disparities in heart failure and other cardiovascular diseases among women

Jean McSweeney1, Christina Pettey, Leanne L Lefler

  • 1College of Nursing, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA. mcsweeneyjeanc@uams.edu

Women'S Health (London, England)
|July 5, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Women face worse heart failure (HF) outcomes due to treatment disparities for conditions like myocardial infarction and hypertension. Factors like age, comorbidities, and socioeconomic status impact adherence to HF guidelines.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Women's Health
  • Health Disparities

Background:

  • Cardiovascular diseases disproportionately affect women, particularly heart failure (HF).
  • Existing research often overlooks gender-specific biological influences and treatment adherence challenges in women with HF.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review literature on cardiovascular disparities in women, with a focus on heart failure (HF).
  • To examine the causes, biological factors, self-management, and treatment guideline adherence in women with HF.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies on cardiovascular disparities in women.
  • Analysis of factors contributing to poorer HF outcomes in women compared to men.

Main Results:

  • Women experience poorer HF outcomes due to disparities in managing conditions like myocardial infarction and hypertension.
  • Nonadherence to HF medication is linked to advanced age, comorbidities, limited social support, and lower socioeconomic status.
  • Limited inclusion of women in clinical trials hinders research applicability.

Conclusions:

  • Addressing gender-specific factors is crucial for improving HF outcomes in women.
  • Enhanced clinical trial diversity and gender-focused analyses are needed for cardiovascular diseases.

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