Role of a Heart Center for Women in the Prevention and Diagnosis of Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease in Women

There are sex differences in how atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) manifests and progresses. Appropriate management requires not only recognition of sex-based clinical differences but in the social disparities may influence outcomes. The establishment of heart centers for women emerged as a response to the escalating deaths in women from cardiovascular disease from 1984 to 2000. Since then, studies have provided further insights into sex differences in ASCVD management. Preventing ASCVD remains crucial in reducing morbidity and death from cardiovascular events in women. Heart centers for women play a crucial role in managing ASCVD in women, with health care professionals at the forefront of this effort. This article summarizes the most current guideline-supported therapies and diagnostic tools essential for preventing and treating ASCVD in women. It also emphasizes the critical importance of acknowledging social determinants of health, fostering empathy and understanding among health care professionals, and asserts that increasing women's participation in cardiovascular trials is vital for advancing research and improving outcomes.