Report Shows Substantial Financial Opportunity in Prioritizing Research, Education on Women’s Heart Health

A report published by authors from the American Heart Association (AHA) and the McKinsey Health Institute showed that addressing the gender gaps prevalent in the treatment of cardiovascular disease (CVD) could boost the US economy by $28 billion annually by 2040 and potentially address the 1.6 million years of life lost due to barriers to care experienced by women. The paper identifies multiple pathways to addressing the lack of representation and access to care for women with CVD that improve health equity across the gender continuum, enabling them to live longer, healthier, happier lives.¹

CVD is the leading cause of death in women in the United States, affecting nearly 60 million individuals, and it makes up over a third of the health gap between men and women. One of the main contributors to the prevalent health disparities is limited understanding of how the biological difference between men and women impacts the development of CVD. According to the AHA, more than 184 million individuals are expected to have CVD within the next 30 years, underscoring the need for improved testing, diagnosis, and treatment of CVD in high-risk populations.^1,2

CVD is the leading cause of death in women in the United States, affecting nearly 60 million individuals, and it makes up over a third of the health gap between men and women. Image Credit: © fizkes - stock.adobe.com

Although women and men share many traditional risk factors, such as obesity, diabetes, or smoking, women’s biology leaves them with an increased risk of developing CVD. Not only are the size and structure of their heart different, but they also experience multiple unique risk factors that men do not. For example, evidence suggests estrogen plays a crucial role in protecting the heart by regulating metabolic functions, as well as helping to relax blood vessels and improve blood flow. Therefore, fluctuating levels of estrogen throughout the various stages of women’s lives, such as pregnancy and menopause, have a significant impact on their overall heart health and risk. Studies have even identified associations between menstruation and CVD, finding that women who experienced their first period before the age of 12 have an increased risk of CVD and other chronic conditions. Additionally, irregular periods may also influence the development of CVD in women.^2-4

A significant factor influencing access to diagnostic testing and tailored treatment for women with CVD is the underrepresentation of women in clinical trials, which has substantial consequences for knowledge of women’s biology and limits access to effective treatments. Various studies published since 2020 showed continued disparities in representation in clinical trials, despite knowledge of the gap being present in the field. Due to the lack of women’s inclusion in CVD trials, clinicians have limited data on how specific CVD treatments affect women’s bodies and health. This often means women receive CVD care that is not personalized to their unique biology, and therefore may be less successful.²

Improving outcomes for women with CVD is crucial and will necessitate prioritizing resources, leadership, and allocating dedicated time across multiple areas of health. The report outlines multiple pathways to facilitating a more inclusive health care system to meet the unmet needs of women with CVD or an increased risk of CVD⁴:

• Advancing sex-specific research in clinical trials. Shifting to a gender-specific approach to research can deepen understanding of women’s biological vulnerabilities. This includes conducting dedicated clinical trials, validating women-centric diagnostic tools, and improving transparency to include sex-based findings into formal guidelines and clinical practice.
• Improving routine health data collection. Establishing standardized, easily accessible formats for collecting sex-specific information to enhance routine health data collection and diagnostics. This might include incorporating menstrual cycle information, utilizing interoperable wearables, or smartphone apps for heart health tracking.
• Equipping providers across the continuum the care continuum. Encouraging the collaboration of multiple specialists to prioritize women’s heart health by integrating comprehensive cardiovascular assessments into routine care. For example, expanding the involvement of allied health care professionals, such as midwives, which can enhance patient-centered interventions.
• Raise public awareness of heart health. Promoting heart health through public education campaigns and inclusion of sex-specific studies in educational institutions. Additionally, employers have opportunities to install workplace wellness programs that equip their employees with the knowledge and tools to prioritize their health.
• Invest in furthering research for treatment of women’s heart health. Designating resources to businesses and initiatives that enhance heart health for women presents opportunities for access to substantial market segment. Life sciences investors could capitalize on the gender gap in CVD and employers may lower health care costs by investing in heart health through employee wellness programs.

The report offers providers and health care institutions comprehensive methods for improving access to care for women with CVD. Prioritizing increased education of women’s biology and unique CVD characteristics is not only essential for addressing critical societal needs, but also taps into a substantial market segment, offering benefits for patients and investors. This financial opportunity has the potential to drive innovation and advancements in the treatment of cardiovascular disease for women, ultimately leading to improved health outcomes and equity in care.⁵

“We know that women’s health encompasses much more than reproductive and maternal health,” said Lucy Pérez, report co-author, senior partner at McKinsey & Company and coleader of the McKinsey Health Institute, in a press release. "Between the disproportionate impact that cardiovascular health has on women, also in ways that are different from men, and the major health and economic opportunity that exists to address it, expanding research and investment in women's heart health will help mitigate the negative outcomes of cardiovascular disease we're seeing in the US."¹

REFERENCES

1. Gender gaps in cardiovascular disease diagnosis and treatment persist; $28 billion opportunity found. American Heart Association. June 25, 2024. Accessed July 12, 2024. https://newsroom.heart.org/news/gender-gaps-in-cardiovascular-disease-diagnosis-and-treatment-persist-28-billion-opportunity-found
2. Closing the gap: addressing underrepresentation of women in cardiovascular clinical trials. Pharmacy Times. May 24, 2024. Accessed July 12, 2024. https://www.pharmacytimes.com/view/closing-the-gap-addressing-underrepresentation-of-women-in-cardiovascular-clinical-trials
3. Women and heart disease. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. December 20, 2023. Accessed July 12, 2024. https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/coronary-heart-disease/women
4. Gender gaps in cardiovascular disease diagnosis and treatment persist; $28 billion opportunity found. American Heart Association. June 25, 2024. Accessed July 12, 2024. https://newsroom.heart.org/news/gender-gaps-in-cardiovascular-disease-diagnosis-and-treatment-persist-28-billion-opportunity-found
5. Perez L, Greenfield M. The state of US women’s heart health: A path to improved health and financial outcomes. McKinsey Health Institute. June 2024. Accessed July 12, 2024. https://www.goredforwomen.org/-/media/GRFW-Files/About-Heart-Disease-in-Women/The-state-of-US-womens-heart-health-report.pdf?sc_lang=en