Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death in women, yet many face delayed diagnosis and undertreatment. A new European consensus statement proposes the widespread development of women’s heart centers to address these long-standing inequalities.
The statement, from several European Society of Cardiology associations, outlines a framework for centers that would operate within existing services using a hub-and-spoke model. This allows specialist expertise alongside routine cardiac care.
Key focus areas include ischemia with non-obstructive coronary arteries, pregnancy complications, cancer-related heart disease, autoimmune disorders, and mental health. The centers would also establish referral pathways and training programs to boost diagnostic accuracy and personalized care.
Experts emphasize the model should be scalable and adaptable across different healthcare systems, integrating primary care, telemedicine, and research. While long-term outcome data are limited, early evidence suggests improvements in risk management and patient outcomes.