Women's Heart Health: closing gaps in research, diagnosis and care
- By Philips
- October 20 2026
- 3 min read
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of mortality and morbidity in women worldwide, yet women’s heart health remains substantially underrecognized, underdiagnosed, undertreated and understudied compared with men’s.[1] This gap reflects both biological differences and systemic challenges. The result is delayed diagnosis, fewer interventions and worse outcomes following cardiovascular events.[1] More inclusive approaches to cardiac care that recognize differences in anatomy, physiology, risk factors and life stages could help improve heart health outcomes for women.[1]
At-a-glance:
- Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death among women worldwide.
- Women’s cardiovascular risk differs fundamentally from men’s in both scope and mechanism.
- Women’s hearts are different from men’s, and these differences can affect disease presentation, diagnosis and treatment.
- Medical education and training do not consistently emphasize sex-based cardiovascular differences, potentially contributing to gaps in physician awareness and care.
Why women’s heart disease needs greater attention
CVD accounts for nearly two-thirds of all female deaths in some European countries, [2] and its global burden among women increased by 74% between 1990 and 2019.[3] In the United States, 44% of women live with some form of heart disease.[4] Today, women remain under-represented at every stage of their cardiac care journey: they experience diagnostic delays, receive fewer diagnostic tests, are less likely to be referred to specialists and continue to be structurally excluded from clinical trials.[2]
Why women’s cardiovascular risk profile differs from men’s
While traditional CVD risk factors affect both sexes, these risks produce greater adverse health consequences in women than in men.[10] More significantly, women face CVD risk factors that do not occur in men, many intricately linked to reproductive and hormonal changes across a woman’s entire lifespan.
Why women's heart disease can be missed
CVD in women is frequently misdiagnosed or diagnosed substantially later than in men, with delays of 7-10 years not uncommon.[13] Women's hearts are structurally and functionally different from men’s hearts in ways that fundamentally affect disease presentation. For example, women’s hearts are 10-15% smaller and have distinct coronary vasculature, with different microvascular function, endothelial properties and unique structural geometry compared to men. Further, while men often present with classical chest pain, women may describe fatigue, nausea, dizziness, shortness of breath or back pain.[7] These symptoms can be overlooked or attributed to non-cardiac causes, contributing to delays in diagnosis.
Why it matters
Cardiovascular disease is the leading health crisis for women. They are less likely to receive diagnostic testing, specialist referral and timely treatment that can lead to better outcomes. Despite robust evidence that prevention works, women encounter barriers at every stage of prevention, from primordial prevention through primary, secondary and tertiary prevention. [4]
This literature review explores the many research, diagnostic, treatment, training and knowledge gaps affecting women’s cardiovascular health. It also highlights opportunities to advance more female-informed, inclusive care across the cardiac care pathway.
Download the Women’s Heart Health Literature Review to learn more.
Women's Heart Health Literature Review
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Footnotes
- [1] Vogel B, Acevedo M, Appelman Y, et al. The Lancet women and cardiovascular disease Commission: reducing the global burden by 2030. Lancet; 2021: 397(10292):2385-438.
- [2] Zhao JV, Sartori S. Beyond one-size-fits-all: addressing sex differences and promoting inclusive leadership in cardiovascular research and healthcare. BMC Med. 2025;23:556.
- [3] Cheng R. Reimagining women's health is a global imperative. BMJ. 2025;390:r1537.
- [4] The WHAM Report: The Business Case for Accelerating Women’s Health Investment. Available from: Investment Reports - Wham Now. Accessed May 2026.
- [7] Li Y, Yin N, Li C, Yang SW. Global burden of cardiovascular disease in women, 1990 2019: A systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019. Medicine (Baltimore). 2025;104:e43215.
- [10] Appelman Y, et al. Cardiovascular disease in women: traditional and sex-specific risk factors. Eur Heart J. 2026 Jun 9;47(22):2750-2765.
- [13] Gauci S, Cartledge S, Redfern J, et al. Biology, bias, or both? The contribution of sex and gender to the disparity in cardiovascular outcomes between women and men. Curr Atheroscler Rep. 2022;24:701-8.
Disclaimer
Results are specific to the institution where they were obtained and may not reflect the results achievable at other institutions. Results in other cases may vary.