June 27, 2024- Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death for women, and gaps in care and access persist between women and men. Addressing those gaps could lead to an increase of at least 1.6 million years of quality life and boost the U.S. economy by $28 billion annually by 2040, according to a new report published today by the American Heart Association and the McKinsey Health Institute (MHI). To help close these gaps and foster gender specific cardiovascular disease science into implementation, the Association, observing 100 years of lifesaving service as the world’s leading nonprofit organization focused on heart and brain health for all, also announced the creation of a new venture fund.
“The state of women’s heart health in the US: A path to improved health and financial outcomes” explores how cardiovascular disease disproportionately affects women in the United States and presents opportunities to close the heart health gap.
According to the paper, one of the main contributors to this gap is a limited understanding of the biological differences between women and men, specifically surrounding how CVD manifests itself in puberty, pregnancy and menopause. Similarly, cardiovascular research and clinical studies often underrepresent women, resulting in subpar treatment outcomes. A lack of scientific knowledge, limited gender-specific medical training, and little investment in specific research and venture funding further exacerbate this disparity. In fact, only 1% of health care research and innovation was invested in female-specific conditions outside of oncology, according to the most recent data available.