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Review
. 2023 Aug;64(8):727-735.
doi: 10.1007/s00108-022-01437-2. Epub 2022 Dec 1.

[Gender-specific differences in cardiology]

[Article in German]
Anja Sandek  1   2 , Gerd Hasenfuß  3   4
Affiliations
Review

[Gender-specific differences in cardiology]

[Article in German]
Anja Sandek et al. Inn Med (Heidelb). 2023 Aug.

Abstract
in English, German

Background: Evidence in cardiovascular patient care is currently skewed to the disadvantage of women. This article provides a summary of the current state of knowledge on gender differences with a special focus on the epidemiology, pathophysiology, risk factors and treatment of the most frequent cardiovascular diseases.

Material and methods: Evaluation and discussion of background research and expert recommendations.

Results: The necessity for a gender-specific analysis of results is a relatively recent development in clinical trials. There is increasing evidence for pathogenic mechanisms specific for women as well as pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic differences between women and men. Women are currently less likely to receive treatment for cardiac diseases according to medical guidelines than men.

Conclusion: For improvement of the treatment options and effective disease prevention, it is pivotal to investigate pathogenetic mechanisms specific to women.

Zusammenfassung: HINTERGRUND: Es besteht ein Evidenzgefälle zwischen den Geschlechtern in der kardiovaskulären Versorgung zuungunsten der Frau. Der vorliegende Beitrag bietet eine Zusammenfassung des Wissensstands über die Geschlechterunterschiede mit besonderem Fokus auf Epidemiologie, Pathophysiologie, Risikofaktoren und Therapie der häufigsten kardialen Erkrankungen.

Material und methoden: Auswertung und Diskussion von Grundlagenarbeiten und Expertenempfehlungen.

Ergebnisse: Erst jüngere Studien berücksichtigen die Notwendigkeit, die Ergebnisse geschlechtergetrennt zu analysieren. Es bestehen Hinweise sowohl auf frauenspezifische pathogenetische Mechanismen als auch auf pharmakodynamische und pharmakokinetische Unterschiede zwischen Frauen und Männern. Derzeit erhalten Frauen seltener als Männer eine leitliniengerechte Therapie ihrer Herzerkrankung.

Schlussfolgerungen: Die weitere Klärung frauenspezifischer pathogenetischer Mechanismen ist eine wichtige Grundlage für eine effektivere Prävention und eine verbesserte Behandlungsoption.

Keywords: Cardiovascular diseases/epidemiology; Cardiovascular diseases/pathophysiology; Cardiovascular diseases/treatment; Cardiovascular risk factors; Gender-specific studies.

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References

Literatur

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