In Europe, incidences of severe native valvular heart disease (VHD) and their treatment vary between men and women. This is the key finding of a comprehensive study conducted at more than 200 centers across Europe. Although numerous studies have reported on sex-specific differences in the treatment of heart attacks, very little data has been collected so far in relation to heart valve diseases.
The findings of the latest study, published in the European Heart Journal , reveal that in the case of specific types of VHD, women are less likely than men to be treated in accordance with the recommendations applicable in Europe. In addition, the reasons for the failure to provide such treatment are different for men and women. Prof.
Julia Mascherbauer, the corresponding author of the study, is a physician at Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences (KL Krems). The incidence of severe native valvular heart disease is increasing rapidly as life expectancy in Europe continues to rise. At the same time, the treatment options available for VHD have improved significantly over the past few decades, which has mainly contributed to the introduction of new, minimally invasive forms of treatment.
However, very little research has been conducted into sex-specific variations regarding the diagnosis and treatment of VHD. The new study has now addressed this situation. Based on extensive data collected by the European Society of Cardiology (ESC), the study analyzed sex-specific disparities .
