Cardiovascular disease in women: Executive summary of the expert panel statement of women in cardiology of the hellenic cardiological society

Abstract

The perception that women represent a low risk population for cardiovascular (CV) disease (CVD) needs to be reconsidered. Starting from risk factors, women are more likely to be susceptible to unhealthy behaviors and risk factors that have different impact on CV morbidity and mortality compared to men. Despite the large body of evidence as regards the effect of lifestyle factors on the CVD onset, the gender-specific effect of traditional and non-traditional risk factors on the prognosis of patients with already established CVD has not been well investigated and understood. Furthermore, CVD in women is often misdiagnosed, underestimated and undertreated. Women also experience hormonal changes from adolescence till elder life that affect CV physiology. Unfortunately, in most of the clinical trials women are under-represented, leading to limited knowledge of CV and systemic impact effects of several treatment modalities on women’s health. Thus, in this consensus a group of female Cardiologists from the Hellenic Society of Cardiology present the special features of CVD in women: the different needs in primary and secondary prevention, as well as therapeutic strategies, that may be implemented in daily clinical practice in order to eliminate underestimation and undertreatment of CVD in female population.

Gender differences in the antihypertensive effect after radiofrequency denervation of the renal arteries in resistant arterial hypertension

“…полученные статистически значимые различия (р<0,05) не противоречат логике и дизайну настоящей работы, а подтверждают общепризнанную концепцию м. dzau и e. вraunwald о сердечнососудистом континууме с развитием заболеваний ссс у женщин в более позднем возрасте [15,16]. основным фактором дестабилизации ссс у женщин в старшей возрастной группе в настоящий момент признается возрастные эндокринные изменения [17,18]. снижение уровня половых гормонов в результате возрастного угасания функции яичников вносит свой вклад в развитие аг в этот период в связи с потерей множественного (эндотелийзависимого и эндотелийнезависимого) «защитного» действия половых гормонов на ссс.…”

Imaging in Women with Heart Failure: Sex-specific Characteristics and Current Challenges

“…31,32 Although there are no significant sex differences in in-hospital mortality among patients with HFrEF, women with HFrEF are more symptomatic, with reduced 6-minute walk distances and a worse quality of life compared to men. 33,34 There is evidence that women with HFrEF have higher ejection fractions, smaller left atria, higher longitudinal strain and higher circumferential strain. 32,35,36 In contrast, another study showed no significant sex differences in LVEF.…”

“…[ 31 , 32 ] Although there are no significant sex differences in in-hospital mortality among patients with HFrEF, women with HFrEF are more symptomatic, with reduced 6-minute walk distances and a worse quality of life compared to men. [ 33 , 34 ]…”

Expert Opinion on Screening and Risk Stratification of Heart Diseases in Indian Women

“…2 Despite the increasing disease burden and associated morbidity and mortality, CVDs among women are often under-recognized, underdiagnosed, and eventually undertreated. 3 Furthermore, women remain significantly underrepresented in cardiovascular clinical research as compared to men. 4 This results in limited understanding of impact of CVD and the broad implications of various treatment modalities on women's health.…”