Understanding the Role of Gender in Cardiovascular Disease Risk

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the leading cause of death worldwide, with nearly 18.6 million lives lost annually and the number of cases nearly doubling from 271 million in 1990 to over 523 million in 2019, according to the Global Burden of Disease study. Traditionally, research has emphasized the impact of biological sex on CVD, revealing that men generally have a higher incidence at younger ages, while women’s risk increases after menopause. However, emerging evidence indicates that gender — encompassing social roles, behaviors, and expectations — also plays a crucial role in the development and outcomes of cardiovascular disease.

Women are often underdiagnosed, undertreated, and misdiagnosed when it comes to CVD, highlighting the importance of considering gender in prevention and treatment strategies. The incidence of CVD varies not only by sex and age but also through the influence of gender-related factors, which can affect how individuals experience and respond to health risks.

Recent studies suggest that gender affects CVD risk differently depending on biological sex. For example, men displaying traditionally feminine characteristics—such as lower education levels or jobs with less physical demand—show a 42% increased risk of CVD compared to men with traditionally masculine traits. This underscores the need for more nuanced research that considers both sex and gender variables.

One challenge in studying gender’s impact on health is that most existing data do not include direct measures of gender. To address this, researchers have developed innovative tools like gender indices, which evaluate social roles, personality traits, and socio-economic factors, allowing a more comprehensive understanding of how gender influences health outcomes. Our research team has proposed a four-step method to create these indices, which involves selecting relevant variables, confirming their predictive power regarding sex, calculating gender scores, and validating these scores across populations.

By integrating gender as a variable, health research can better highlight disparities and tailor prevention strategies accordingly. Recognizing that gender is a dynamic, socially constructed concept—distinct from biological sex—can help create more equitable health interventions and improve cardiovascular outcomes for all individuals.

In conclusion, understanding both sex and gender’s impact on cardiovascular disease is vital for advancing personalized medicine and reducing health inequalities. Incorporating gender measures into existing research makes it possible to develop more inclusive prevention and treatment approaches, ensuring better health outcomes worldwide.

Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-04-cardiovascular-disease-impact-sex-role.html