Understanding the Gender Gap in Heart Failure Clinical Trials and Its Impact on Women's Health

How the Clinical Trial Gender Gap Affects Women’s Heart Care

Women being underrepresented in cardiovascular clinical trials has led to a knowledge gap of sex-based differences in heart disease. With most early studies focusing on men, treatments and guidelines were developed without adequately understanding how heart disease affects women differently. Despite policy changes in the 1990s that mandated the inclusion of women in clinical trials, these disparities persist, limiting the generalizability of research findings and potentially leading to gaps in treatment outcomes for women.

How Does This Gap Affect Women’s Heart Health Care?

A review published in Cureus revealed 13 common themes in gender-based disparities in cardiovascular health, including disparities in treatment and secondary prevention, differing symptom presentation, delayed diagnosis or misdiagnosis in women, and more. Women often experience delays in presenting with heart disease, leading to poorer outcomes. Research shows that women often experience generalized chest pain or discomfort but also many non-chest pain symptoms such as nausea, fatigue, back pain, heart palpitations, and shortness of breath. Meanwhile, men typically report common symptoms of myocardial infarction.

What Is Being Done to Bridge the Gap?

Efforts are being made to design clinical trials that accommodate women’s schedules, aiming to improve enrollment and representation. Moreover, collaborative care models and telehealth initiatives are addressing cardiovascular health disparities, improving outcomes for women facing risks.