According to the Continuous National Household Sample Survey, in 2019, the Brazilian population was composed of 48.2% men and 51.8% women. In the age group up to 24 years old, men and women accounted for 17.8% and 17.2% of the population, respectively, in 2019. From 25 years of age onwards, the proportion of women was higher than that of men in all age groups, 30.4% and 34.6%, respectively, for men and women. On the other hand, life expectancy for men […]

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in women worldwide. Despite improvements in awareness on heart disease in women through various campaigns and initiatives, cardiovascular risk in women still tends to be underestimated by health care professionals and women themselves. With respect to the latter, a study from the United States has even shown a decline in awareness regarding the fact that heart disease is the leading cause of death among women over recent years. Especially young women are […]

This issue of the International Journal of Cardiovascular Sciences comes at a time when the medical and scientific community are finally addressing an important issue that has been somehow neglected over the years. That is gender equity when dealing with health and scientific issues. This relates not only with the medical differences between genders in many clinical conditions, but also how gender equity is still an enormous issue when we are dealing with health care forces, payments, access to leading […]

SARS-CoV-2, which causes COVID-19, created a pandemic that not only overwhelmed the world in December 2019, but also challenged humanity in every way. While a significant portion of the global population remained in a standstill, waiting for an end and adapting to limits of all sorts, including working from home, a new workforce category emerged: the “frontline” workers. Doctors, nurses, and all allied professions employed by the healthcare system were joined by a long line of diverse service providers. The […]

Women need specific intervention and information about their particularities, especially regarding CV risk factors, as well as the biological, pathophysiological, and social differences between the sexes. The majority of large clinical trials that address current cardiovascular diseases (CVD) were not conducted with enough women to generate robust evidence. CVD in women remains poorly studied, poorly recognized, underdiagnosed, and undertreated, generating worse outcomes. It is necessary to change this reality so that women are approached according to their singularities in order […]

Abstract Background: The impact of gender on the outcome of patients hospitalized with infective endocarditis (IE) is not fully understood. Objective: To verify the association between gender and the clinical profile of patients hospitalized with IE, treatment strategies, and clinical outcomes. Methods: This is a retrospective nationwide study of patients hospitalized with IE, based on hospital admissions between 2010 and 2018 in Portugal. Descriptive statistics were used to present variables. An inferential analysis was performed using multiple logistic regression. A […]

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) represent a global pandemic. Although mortality due to CVD has been decreasing with improvement in diagnosis and treatment, it remains the most frequent cause of death worldwide both in men and women. Gender impacts several key aspects in CVD, such as epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical manifestations, disease progression, response to treatment and prognosis, in areas like coronary artery disease and heart failure. However, few studies analyzed the influence of gender in infectious endocarditis (IE) management and outcomes. , […]

Abstract Background: Cardiovascular risk (CVR) monitoring is important for defining preventive actions against cardiovascular disease; this condition prevails more intensely in scenarios with less infrastructure such as African descent communities. The Framingham Risk Score (FRS) and the Global Risk Score (GRS) have been used in Brazil for CVR monitoring based on scales of points for certain risk factors. Among these, hypercholesterolemia and low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol require tests not always available in primary care. An alternative would be the simplified […]

Cardiovascular risk (CVR) is a field of great relevance with a growing number of studies throughout the country due to the magnitude of cardiovascular diseases (CVD), which have caused nearly 18 million deaths in 2016 and represent 31% of worldwide deaths.– In Brazil, CVD also lead the mortality and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) rates,4.5 with negative effects on the quality of life of individuals, family members, and societies.3.5 It is noteworthy that CVD has an unequal effect on populations, with […]

Abstract Background Although cardiovascular disease is a major cause of death among women, cardiovascular risk assessment in young women is frequently postponed due to a number of factors. Objectives To assess cardiovascular risk of young adult women living in one of Rio de Janeiro’s Family Health Strategy geographical units in the city’s central area. Materials and Methods populational, cross-sectional study with adults between 20 and 50 years old. Sociodemographic characteristics such as educational level and employment status were recorded. Anthropometric […]

Abstract Background Cardiovascular diseases are the main cause of death in women and the accuracy of currently available risk scores is questionable. Objective To reclassify the risk estimated by the Framingham Risk Score (FRS) in asymptomatic middle-aged women by incorporating family history, exercise testing variables, and subclinical atherosclerosis markers. Methods This cross-sectional study included 509 women (age range, 46-65 years) without cardiovascular symptoms. Those at low or intermediate risk by the FRS were reclassified to a higher level considering premature […]

Abstract Background: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) comprises a group of cardiac and circulatory diseases. Despite the high incidence in males, women after menopause have an exponential increase in the risk of CVD. Objective: To identify the leading risk factors for CVD and describe quality of life and functionality in women hospitalized for cardiac causes during the climacteric period. Materials and methods: Observational descriptive study. Quality of life was assessed through the SF-36 questionnaire, and functionality through the Functional Independence Measurement (FIM) […]

The gradual loss of ovarian function with concomitant decrease in estrogen levels, characteristic of the climacteric period, leads to several metabolic changes and symptoms. Significant effects on the health and quality of life of women occur, and vasomotor symptoms during this transitional period are almost universally recognized. Among physical symptoms, hot flushes and night sweats are very prevalent and may be very disturbing. However, cardiovascular risk is frequently neglected not only by these women, but surprisingly, also by part of […]

Abstract Background Cardiovascular disease is the main cause of death worldwide. There is a lack of studies addressing this issue in women and its risk factors, such as hypertension. Objective To evaluate the clinical and therapeutic profile of women with hypertension and to determine which factors are related to treatment adherence and blood pressure control. Methods Cross-sectional study of 181 hypertensive women treated at an outpatient referral clinic. Data were obtained from medical records, face-to-face interviews, and physical examination, using […]

Blood pressure control is the greatest challenge in the treatment of hypertension., The control rate varies from 10% to 32% among continents, and it is related to the development level of each country, with averages ranging from 27% in low- and middle-income countries to 51% in high-income countries. In Brazil, the rates of awareness (22% – 77%), treatment (11% – 78%), and blood pressure control (10% – 36%) also vary depending on the population studied. Clinical inertia, inappropriate lifestyle, and […]

Abstract Background Sex-specific pathology of coronary artery disease (CAD) has not been recognized. Women with obstructive or nonobstructive CAD associated with traditional risk factors have similar events; no studies have explored both populations in association with genetic markers. Objective To evaluate the DD genotype in overweight menopausal women and its association with CAD and traditional risk factors. Method This cross-sectional study included 356 menopausal women who underwent coronary angiography as CAD assessment. The patients’ DNA was extracted and polymorphisms were […]

Abstract Background The implementation of intensive therapy protocols increases the probability of adverse events in patients with breast cancer (BC). Components of metabolic syndrome (MS) are among these events. Objective To verify the prevalence of MS and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in female BC survivors. Materials and Methods This is a descriptive, observational, cross-sectional study. Our sample comprised 60 women without BC (G1) and 60 women who had survived BC (G2). We collected sociodemographic, anthropometric, tumor, and clinical data. After […]

Abstract Background Although cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in women, few data exist on risk factors and treatment of these diseases in women. This leads to a delay in the institution of appropriate therapies and worse outcomes in this population. Objective We aimed to identify predictors of morbidity and mortality in women undergoing isolated mitral valve replacement. Methods This was a retrospective cohort study with 104 women who underwent isolated mitral valve replacement at a referral hospital […]

Abstract Background Coronary artery disease (CAD) is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in women and requires early diagnosis for defining the appropriate treatment. Objective To identify the positive predictive value (PPV) and safety of the early use of handgrip exercise in pharmacological stress echocardiography using dobutamine (early-ECHO) in women. Methods Positive ischemic early-ECHO records from 111 women were evaluated from January 2012 to March 2018. Subsequently, the hospital medical records were verified to locate patients who underwent conventional […]

Abstract Background: Maternal mortality rates in Brazil remain above the goals established by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Heart disease is estimated to affect 4% of all pregnancies and remains by itself the main indirect obstetric cause of maternal death. In the last decades, a significant improvement in the prognosis of heart diseases has made pregnancy possible in women with heart disease and provided better maternal and fetal outcomes. Objective: To establish a multicenter Brazilian Registry of pregnant women […]

According to the literature, although the prevalence of heart disease in pregnancy varies considerably among countries, cardiovascular disease is responsible for 1% to 4% of complicated pregnancies in industrialized countries. This pattern is related to cardiovascular risk factors, such as smoking, diabetes, obesity, and hypertension, especially in low- and middle-income countries, as well as late motherhood and the presence of congenital heart disease, mainly in high-income countries., Improved diagnostic methods and therapeutic alternatives have encouraged maternity by promoting safer pregnancies. […]

Abstract Introduction: Vegetarian diets have favorable effects on cardiovascular risk, provided that they do not contain ultra-processed foods (UPF). Objective: To compare the metabolic profile, cardiovascular risk, body composition, and food consumption in vegan (VEG), lacto-ovo vegetarian (LOV), and omnivorous (OMNI) women. To verify the association between UPF consumption and cardiovascular risk. Methods: Cross-sectional study with 119 VEG (n = 43), LOV (n = 38), and OMNI (n = 38) women. Anthropometric and biochemical parameters and the Framingham risk score […]

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) remain the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in women worldwide. Especially for women, traditional risk factors fail to explain most cases, deaths, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) from CVD. Risk factors inherent to the female sex and psychosocial aspects play an essential role in the development of CVD in women. Efforts need to be made to narrow the gap in diagnosis and treatment among women, especially younger ones, among whom CVD prevalence is increasing worldwide. […]

The study in this issue of the Journal analyzed the sex and gender gap that exists for ischemic heart disease and myocardial infarction. The authors reviewed all the factors that differ between genders in terms of incidence, mortality, pathophysiology and clinical implications, diagnosis, and treatment. The article highlights firstly that there has been an increase in the annual change in proportional mortality from ischemic heart disease in women in recent years, with an age-standardized incidence of 104 per 100 000 […]

Abstract Swyer syndrome is one of the disorders of sexual differentiation. Previous studies have demonstrated increased sympathetic activity with heart rate variability (HRV) analysis with decreasing estradiol levels. One patient presented a pure 46, XY gonadal dysgenesis with female phenotype. Cardiac autonomic modulation was assessed through HRV analysis while at rest. This research analyzed linear and nonlinear indexes. HRV analysis showed reduced parasympathetic and global modulation with an apparent increase in sympathetic tone and a loss of HR fractal dynamics […]

Abstract The atrioventricular (AV) reentrant tachycardia (AVRT) is the most common cause of supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) in the young pediatric population. Some newborns might present with congestive heart failure and require interventional treatment. Catheter ablation in small infants (

Abstract Half of the global population over 20 years of age will be affected by cardiovascular disease. Cardiovascular events in young people is challenging. Spontaneous coronary artery dissection is a non-traumatic and non-iatrogenic separation of the coronary arterial wall and is an uncommon and underdiagnosed cause of acute myocardial infarction predominately found in young women. Medical management has been more widely accepted, with percutaneous and surgery treatment reserved for precise indications. Optimal control of individual risk factors is essential in […]