Cardiovascular disease (CVD) broadly describes conditions that include heart disease, stroke, heart failure, and hypertension. CVD is the leading cause of death in both women and men in the United States. Risk factors for the developing CVD include older age, obesity, diabetes, inactivity, family history, and smoking for women and men alike. However, research has shown that there are significant sex differences between men and women concerning the pathophysiology, symptom presentation, and efficacy of diagnostic tests and medical therapies for heart disease.
There are also persistent gender disparities in cardiology clinical trial enrollment, and women are more likely to experience delayed heart disease diagnoses and therapeutic interventions than men. Addressing gender-specific considerations in clinical care and policy formulation is a public health imperative and is key to improving women’s heart health across the lifespan.
Heart Health is part of the SWHR Healthy Aging Network, which engages the following focus areas: Alzheimer’s Disease, Bone Health, Heart Health, Menopause, and Obesity.
Guides & Toolkits
A Social Media Toolkit created by the Society for Women’s Health Research Heart disease is the leading cause of death...
Policy Engagement
Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both women and men in the United States, resulting in one...
Calls to Action
In this resource, SWHR has identified priority areas to eliminate disparities in IHD among women, taking a lifespan approach that...
Fact Sheets
The Factors Impacting Women’s Cardiovascular Health Fact Sheet explains the challenges that women face when it comes to the management...
SWHR launched its latest policy agenda, "Improving Women's Heart Health Outcomes Across the Lifespan," informed by an interdisciplinary Heart Health Policy Working Group of policy professionals, researchers, clinicians, and patient advocates.
To offer solutions and bring attention to IHD and American Heart Month this February, SWHR has released a resource spotlighting actions to address gaps in heart health education for women across the lifespan.
The importance of preventative health care for women was reiterated time and time again throughout the SWHR Value of Diagnostics within Women’s Health virtual public forum series this year.
SWHR's working group on women’s heart health discussed how women are continually overlooked in heart health research and clinical care and how to address these gaps.
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