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Sex differences in acute cardiovascular care: a review and needs assessment

Saraschandra Vallabhajosyula1,2,3,4, Dhiran Verghese5, Viral K Desai6

  • 1Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.

Cardiovascular Research
|March 18, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Sex disparities persist in cardiovascular disease care, particularly in acute settings. Understanding sex differences in physiology, anatomy, and pharmacology is crucial for improving diagnosis, management, and outcomes in these patients.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Sex-Based Medicine
  • Clinical Outcomes

Background:

  • Cardiovascular disease (CVD) care has advanced, yet significant sex disparities persist.
  • These disparities are evident across all aspects of CVD care, with a pronounced impact on acute cardiovascular conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review sex disparities in the clinical course, management, and outcomes of six common acute cardiovascular conditions.
  • To explore the role of underlying sex differences in physiology, anatomy, and pharmacology.
  • To identify areas for improvement in clinical approaches to acute cardiovascular care.

Main Methods:

  • Narrative review of existing literature.
  • Focus on six commonly encountered acute cardiovascular conditions.
  • Analysis based on sex differences in biological and pharmacological factors.

Main Results:

  • Sex disparities are prevalent in the diagnosis, management, and outcomes of acute cardiovascular conditions.
  • Underlying sex differences in physiology, anatomy, and pharmacology contribute to these disparities.
  • Specific examples of disparities in conditions with known sex predilection will be discussed.

Conclusions:

  • Addressing sex disparities is critical for equitable and effective acute cardiovascular care.
  • Further research into sex-specific mechanisms is needed to optimize treatment strategies.
  • Clinical practice must adapt to account for sex differences to improve patient outcomes.

Keywords:
Acute heart failureAcute myocardial infarctionCardiac arrestCardiogenic shockFemaleSex differencesSpontaneous coronary artery dissectionTakotsubo cardiomyopathy

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