Why We Need Specialised Centres for Women’s Hearts: Changing the Face of Cardiovascular Care for Women

Abstract

Although cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of mortality in women globally, cardiovascular care for women remains suboptimal, with poorer outcomes than for men. During the past two decades, there has been an incremental increase in research and publications on CVD in women, addressing sex-specific risk factors, symptoms, pathophysiology, treatment, prevention and identification of inequities in care. Nonetheless, once women have manifested CVD, they continue to have increasingly worse outcomes than men. An approach to addressing these global disparities has been the worldwide establishment of specialised centres providing cardiovascular care for women. These women’s heart centres (WHCs) allow a comprehensive approach to the cardiovascular care of women across the lifespan. The purpose of this article is to define the need for and role of these specialised centres by outlining sex-specific gaps in CVD care, and to provide guidance on components within WHCs that may be considered when establishing such programmes.

Feasibility to estimate mean systemic filling pressure with inspiratory holds at the bedside

“…All the initially included women were deemed hemodynamically unstable in the ICU. Aiming to include women in order to obtain a study population that is reflective of the clinical population and in order to translate findings across genders remains important ( Bybee and Stevens, 2013 ; Garcia et al, 2016 ; Gulati et al, 2021 ).…”

Sex, Gender, and Women's Heart Health: How Women's Heart Programs Address the Knowledge Gap

“…WHPs have gained recognition as crucial initiatives to address sex- and gender-based disparities in CVD outcomes. 11 , 47 Initially regarded as mere trends, the intensifying evidence of increasing CVD morbidity and mortality among women necessitates specialized programs tailored to their unique cardiovascular needs. 47 Approximately 50 WHPs exist globally, 6 of which are in Canada.…”

“… 11 , 47 Initially regarded as mere trends, the intensifying evidence of increasing CVD morbidity and mortality among women necessitates specialized programs tailored to their unique cardiovascular needs. 47 Approximately 50 WHPs exist globally, 6 of which are in Canada. These programs are often supported by charitable foundations, philanthropic entities, and industry sponsors, and they often go beyond routine heart disease prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and education.…”

“… 11 Moreover, WHPs address heart conditions and risk factors that disproportionately impact women, such as adverse pregnancy outcomes, peripartum cardiomyopathy, polycystic ovary syndrome, menopause, and hormonal therapy. 47 , 48 However, despite these promising outcomes, the availability of WHPs in Canada remains limited ( Fig. 4 ).…”

A Convergent and Multidisciplinary Integration for Research in Menopause

“…The need for improved cardiac care was particularly noticed when the associated morbidity and mortality in women had escalated when there was already a decline in the CVD-associated mortality in men. [ 25 ] The need for WHC has been well conceived, elaborated and its team's training standards were outlined. [ 26 ] An umbrella review reports that from menarche to menopause reproductive profile of an individual woman contributes to her cardiac health, and thus in clinical reality, there is a need to focus on the following factors while assessing her for being at risk for CVD.…”