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Specialized Care for Women: the Impact of Women's Heart Centers
Gina P Lundberg1, Laxmi S Mehta2, Annabelle S Volgman3
1Emory Women's Heart Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA. Gina.Lundberg@Emory.edu.
Insights
Heart centers for women (HCW) improve cardiovascular disease (CVD) care and research for women. Despite progress, recent increases in CVD mortality for all genders highlight the need for continued focus and specialized care.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Women's Health
- Public Health
Background:
- Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of mortality in US women.
- Historically, women have had higher CVD mortality rates than men.
- Heart centers for women (HCW) were established to increase awareness and research specific to women's cardiovascular health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the historical development of HCW.
- To discuss the comprehensive cardiovascular care provided by HCW for women.
- To highlight the evolution of specialized care for women across their lifespan.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of the historical development and services of HCW.
- Analysis of the impact of HCW on women's cardiovascular health awareness and research.
- Examination of current HCW models and partnerships.
Main Results:
- CVD mortality rates in women are approaching those in men due to increased awareness and specialized care.
- HCW have evolved to offer subspecialty care, education, and research opportunities for women.
- Recent alarming increases in CVD mortality affect both men and women, underscoring ongoing public health challenges.
Conclusions:
- HCW play a crucial role in addressing women's cardiovascular health needs through specialized care and research.
- Continued efforts are needed to combat the rising trend in cardiovascular disease mortality across all populations.
- Partnerships between HCW and advocacy organizations are vital for comprehensive women's cardiovascular care.
Purpose Of The Review:
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) has been and remains the leading cause of mortality in women in the United States. For decades, more women died every year of CVD compared to men. Heart centers for women (HCW) are developed in response to the need for greater patient and physician awareness of CVD in women and to conduct sex-specific research in women. Today, many HCW provide multispecialty and focused areas of cardiovascular care for women. HCW provide their female patients with expertise over the many stages of a woman's life. And HCW partner with national organizations to advance research and education through specialized and focused care for women. The purpose of this review is to review the historical development of heart centers for women and discuss the types of care they provide for women.
Recent Findings:
Mortality rates from cardiovascular disease in women are finally reaching the levels of men after decades of focus on awareness, prevention, and evidence-based guideline-directed care for women. Heart centers for women have evolved to provide subspecialty and comprehensive care for women that includes education and research. Heart centers for women are partnering with many other disease-based and patient advocacy organizations to provide care for all women at all stages of life. Alarmingly, there has been increasing CVD mortality in both men and women recently.