Sex-specific challenges in cardiovascular disease among women: gaps in recognition, diagnosis, and management

Despite being the leading cause of mortality among women, cardiovascular disease remains underrecognized and undertreated due to sex-related differences in clinical presentation, risk factors, and healthcare delivery. Women are often excluded from clinical trials, undergo fewer diagnostic evaluations, and are less likely to receive guideline-directed therapies. Additionally, female-specific risk factors, such as pregnancy-related disorders, early menopause, and autoimmune diseases, are frequently overlooked. Addressing these disparities through sex-specific risk assessment, increased clinician awareness, and inclusion of women in research is imperative to optimize prevention and treatment strategies and reduce cardiovascular disease-related morbidity and mortality in women.