What have we learned so far from the sex/gender issue in heart failure? An overview of current evidence.
Michele ArcopintoValeria ValenteFederica GiardinoAlberto Maria MarraAntonio CittadiniPublished in: Internal and emergency medicine (2022)
There are important differences in epidemiology, pathophysiology, HF patterns, prognosis, and treatment. Women have a higher incidence of HFpEF due to sex-specific factors (such as anthropometry, role of estrogens, pregnancy-related cardiomyopathies), increased incidence of comorbidities, and gender-specific conditions. Men instead present a predisposition to the development of HFrEF due to a higher incidence of coronary artery disease and myocardial infarction. However, there are still gaps in the management of women with HF. The poor inclusion of women in clinical trials may have contributed to a lesser understanding of disease behavior than in men. In addition, a full understanding of gender-specific factors that are studied in small populations is lacking in the literature, and only in recent years, studies have increased their focus on this issue. Understanding how society, family, and environment affect the prognosis of HF patients may help clinicians provide more appropriate levels of care. In this overview, we aimed at summarizing all the key available evidence regarding sex/gender differences in heart failure.
Keyphrases
- heart failure
- acute heart failure
- risk factors
- coronary artery disease
- clinical trial
- pregnancy outcomes
- polycystic ovary syndrome
- left ventricular
- end stage renal disease
- palliative care
- ejection fraction
- systematic review
- chronic kidney disease
- healthcare
- atrial fibrillation
- prognostic factors
- middle aged
- cardiac resynchronization therapy
- randomized controlled trial
- type diabetes
- metabolic syndrome
- pregnant women
- pain management
- cardiovascular events
- breast cancer risk
- quality improvement
- adipose tissue
- patient reported outcomes
- acute coronary syndrome
- phase iii
- phase ii
- affordable care act
- health insurance