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Author Spotlight: Workflow for Integrating POCUS Data into EHR for Managing Heart Failure Patients
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Author Spotlight: Workflow for Integrating POCUS Data into EHR for Managing Heart Failure Patients

Published on: July 12, 2024

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Addressing Barriers for Women with Advanced Heart Failure

Estefania Oliveros1, Clara Inés Saldarriaga Giraldo2, Jillian Hall3

  • 1Heart and Vascular Institute, Temple University Hospital, 3401 N Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19444, USA. Estefania.Oliveros@temple.edu.

Current Cardiology Reports
|September 12, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Women with advanced heart failure (HF) face significant disparities in diagnosis and treatment compared to men. Addressing these gender-based gaps in care is crucial for improving survival rates in women with HF.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Health Disparities

Background:

  • Advanced heart failure (HF) affects both men and women, but outcomes and treatment patterns differ significantly by gender.
  • Understanding these disparities is critical for equitable patient care.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To describe gender-based disparities in the diagnosis and management of advanced heart failure (HF).
  • To identify barriers contributing to these disparities.
  • To propose solutions for improving care and outcomes for women with advanced HF.

Main Methods:

  • This review synthesizes current literature on gender differences in advanced heart failure diagnosis and management.
  • It analyzes data on diagnostic testing, procedures, and advanced therapies.
  • Barriers to equitable care and potential solutions are discussed.

Main Results:

  • Women with advanced HF are less likely to receive recommended diagnostic tests and invasive procedures, including revascularization, implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs), cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT), mechanical circulatory support (MCS), and heart transplantation.
  • These disparities contribute to less favorable outcomes for women.
  • Key barriers include unequal access to care, limited awareness, underrepresentation in clinical trials, and challenges in eligibility for advanced therapies.

Conclusions:

  • Significant gender disparities exist in the diagnosis and management of advanced heart failure.
  • Addressing these disparities requires a multi-faceted approach focusing on access, knowledge, clinical trial participation, and equitable eligibility criteria.
  • A call to action is proposed to "level the playing field" and enhance survival for women with advanced HF.
Abstract

Keywords:
FemaleHeart failureLVADSex disparitiesTransplantWomen

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