Urgent Action Needed to Bridge the Gender Disparity in Heart Attack Care, Study Warns

Women in Australia continue to face significant disparities in heart attack treatment, with progress sluggish enough that the gender gap in care is not expected to close for at least another ten years. A comprehensive study by the University of Sydney, published in the Medical Journal of Australia, reveals that despite advancements, women remain less likely than men to receive critical interventions like angiograms and PCI procedures within the recommended timeframe after experiencing a type of heart attack known as STEMI. This delay results in a 6.2% higher mortality rate within a year for women.

The research analyzed hospital data from 29,435 patients over nearly a decade and highlighted that women, who comprise nearly 29% of STEMI cases, are often older, with more comorbidities and tend to live in disadvantaged areas. While survival rates for women have improved at a rate of 1% annually—faster than the 0.6% for men—the initial disadvantages mean the care gap remains wide. Factors contributing to the disparity include under-recognition of atypical symptoms in women, delayed diagnoses, and systemic biases in healthcare.

Globally, similar gender gaps are observed across the UK, US, and Europe, with campaigns like Go Red for Women and Making the Invisible Visible helping raise awareness. Experts emphasize the urgency for enhanced research, better training for healthcare providers, and targeted public campaigns to increase awareness among women about their risks.

Strategic measures proposed include public education on symptoms, transparent reporting of treatment equity, improving clinical training to recognize gender-specific signs, increasing female participation in clinical trials, and developing specialized care pathways for women. Addressing these issues is crucial since heart disease remains the leading cause of death among women, often overlooked due to misconceptions that it predominantly affects men.

The study underscores that with concerted effort and systemic reform, significant strides can still be made to ensure women receive timely and effective care, ultimately saving lives and improving outcomes. For more details, visit the University of Sydney's research publication on this important topic.

Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-10-gender-gap-heart-wont-decade.html