- Investments to narrow the heart health gap could help 3.9 billion women live healthier lives and boost the global economy by $1 trillion annually by 2040.
- This will involve public, private and social sector collaboration on four fronts: research, product development, public awareness and data.
- A range of programmes and initiatives are already up and running across these areas but more investment is needed to close the heart health gap.
For far too long, women’s health conditions – especially sex-specific conditions – have been under-studied, under-treated and under-funded. This is especially true of cardiovascular disease, which is the leading cause of death for women globally.
Women are not simply small men. Their cardiovascular health is influenced by biological differences rooted in unique life stages such as pregnancy and menopause. Closing the women’s health gap could not only be the catalyst for improving the lives of women around the world, it could also boost the global economy.
In fact, investments to narrow the women’s health gap could help 3.9 billion women to live healthier lives and boost the global economy by $1 trillion annually by 2040, according to research by the World Economic Forum in collaboration with the McKinsey Health Institute. And in the US alone, tackling the gender gaps in care for cardiovascular disease could lead to an increase of at least 1.6 million years of quality life and stimulate the US economy by $28 billion annually by 2040.
To help close the women’s heart health gap, the public, private and social sectors must collaborate and act on several fronts.
Accelerating women-focused research
Women continue to be underrepresented in cardiovascular research, resulting in less effective treatment outcomes. Research can be significantly improved by shifting from a one-size-fits-all approach to prioritizing sex-specific research.
The American Heart Association has joined forces with other top cardiovascular research funders around the world to support an international scientific research grant focused on women’s cardiovascular health. The $10 million grant will be awarded by the Global Cardiovascular Research Funders Forum, an international alliance of 12 major funders of cardiovascular research across the world.
Today, women around the world spend 25% more time in poor health than men. Given this disparity, public and private sector organizations must collaborate and advocate to shape policies, encourage innovation and drive investments into women’s health, including critical research and development.
Investing in businesses that advance women’s heart health
By addressing the unmet needs in women’s heart health, businesses can tap into a large, underserved market. When new products are brought to market, they often fail to account for the differences between men’s and women’s clinical needs. According to a Deloitte study, women’s health represented just 2% of the $41.2 billion in US venture funding that went to health innovators.
To help address the pervasive lack of investment in women’s health, the American Heart Association has recently launched a $75 million Go Red for Women Venture Fund. The fund invests in companies that are translating evidence-based science into products and services designed to drive better health outcomes for women.
More health tech innovators also need to operate at the intersection of science and technology to help accelerate investments in cutting-edge technology solutions like artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning to improve patient outcomes and help all women lead healthier lives. Without increased venture funding and innovation, women’s health will continue to lag and the cardiovascular disease gap between men and women will continue to widen.
Raising public awareness of heart health
Public education campaigns can play an invaluable role in raising awareness of healthcare issues and we need more accessible resources that are culturally relevant. Many women simply aren’t aware that heart disease can affect them at all ages and phases of life. For example, it can pose a threat to women during pregnancy, making it important that women understand how to care for themselves during this time.
In Latin America, the American Heart Association has teamed up with Sociedad Interamericana de Cardiología and the InterAmerican Heart Foundation to engage with ministries of health in the region to educate and empower women about the importance of caring for their cardiovascular health during all stages of pregnancy.
Organizations like the World Heart Federation and Noncommunicable Disease (NCD) Alliance are also collaborating to highlight the critical need to prioritize women’s health and NCDs through events and public campaigns. This is particularly important in the lead-up to the fourth UN High-level Meeting on NCDs later this year.
Strengthening prevention and care through better data
The more we know about women and their overall health, the better we can prevent and treat cardiovascular disease. Effective treatment guidelines rely on a foundation of comprehensive data that represents women across all age groups, races and ethnicities, and health conditions. As we continue to recruit more women to clinical trials, the evidence base on how to care for them will continue to grow.
Hospitals need to be able to ensure every patient entrusted to their care is treated with the highest, research-based standards. Strong data can provide doctors with sex-specific information when treating health issues like cardiovascular disease. Better data can also help to highlight specific advice for unique populations, such as women who may be pregnant or undergoing postmenopausal therapy.
As a global community, it’s vital we act now to address the needs of women at every age, stage and season of their lives. Working together – by investing in groundbreaking research, enhancing education and driving innovation – we can help women live longer, healthier lives while also strengthening the global economy.
