Arq. Bras. Cardiol. 2025; 122(1): e20240824
Addressing Gender Disparities in Cardiovascular Care: Guideline-Oriented PCI for Women and the Hua-Mulan Conundrum
Pedro Guimarães Silva
, Henrique Barbosa Ribeiro
This Short Editorial is referred by the Research article "Outcomes of Guideline-Recommended Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in Women with Obstructive Coronary Artery Disease: A Longitudinal Cohort Study".
The burden of cardiovascular disease (CVD) is not evenly distributed across populations. While biological factors contribute to its prevalence, social, cultural, economic, environmental, and gender-related issues also play significant roles in shaping the unfavorable outcomes associated with ischemic heart disease (IHD). Despite significant advances in cardiovascular care and the advent of modern percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI), gender disparities in the diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes of CVD persist.
According to the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Network’s 2019 report, CVD accounted for 35% of all female deaths globally, with the impact particularly pronounced in developing countries, where socioeconomic barriers hinder access to adequate healthcare. In Brazil, GBD data revealed that 12% of deaths were attributed to IHD, comprising 32.3% of total CVD-related deaths. Although recent years have seen some improvements, women continue to experience slightly higher IHD-related mortality rates (29.9%) compared to men (27.6%). These statistics underscore the urgent need for targeted strategies to address gender inequities and the broader determinants of health in managing CVD.,
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