Gender and CVD- Does It Really Matters?

Cardiovascular disease is leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Although women generally have a lower prevalence of CVD than men. Number of studies has shown that after an acute cardiovascular (CV) event, women have a greater death rate and a worse prognosis. Gender differences between men and women in terms of epidemiology, pathophysiology and remedial issues are of due to differences in gene expression from the sex chromosomes and posterior differences in sex hormones. According to western societies, majority of ischemic heart disease occurs 7-10 times later in women than in men. Men are more likely, around 3-4 times than women to suffer from ST - elevated myocardial infaction (STEMI) or non-STEMI. In this review, we summarized the gender differences of several typical cardiovascular diseases including coronary artery disease, heart failure, LBBB, atrial fibrillation, effect of drugs and risk factors. Cardiovascular death in women is major concern which is still under-recognition and untreated. Consideration of gender differences is important for prevention, diagnosis, treatment and management of CVD.