A comprehensive scientific statement published in the journal Circulation reveals significant disparities in how peripheral vascular disease affects women, highlighting substantial gaps in medical research, diagnosis, and treatment. The statement, authored by leading cardiovascular experts, exposes critical differences across various vascular conditions that disproportionately impact women's health. Peripheral vascular disease encompasses conditions affecting arteries, veins, and lymphatic systems throughout the body. While PVD affects men and women similarly in overall prevalence, women experience unique challenges in diagnosis and treatment. Dr. Esther S.H. Kim, the statement's lead author, emphasized that PVD remains under-recognized and understudied in women, creating significant healthcare disparities.
The research identified notable differences across multiple vascular conditions. In peripheral artery disease, women are more likely to experience atypical symptoms and greater functional decline. Black women face an especially high lifetime PAD risk of 27.6%, compared to 19% for white women, and often receive less evidence-based treatment. Aortic diseases present another arena of significant disparity. Women tend to be diagnosed at older ages with more severe conditions and face higher risks of complications. In the U.K. Small Aneurysm Trial, women were three times more likely than men to experience aneurysm rupture, with 30% of ruptures occurring in smaller aneurysms compared to 8% in men.
The scientific statement recommends several critical priorities to address these disparities. These include ensuring adequate representation of women in clinical trials, analyzing research data by sex, establishing optimal treatment strategies, enhancing clinician education about sex-specific differences, and improving screening methodologies. Specific conditions like vasculitis demonstrate stark gender variations. Takayasu arteritis occurs five times more often in women, particularly those aged 15-30, while giant cell arteritis is more prevalent in older populations. Mortality rates for Takayasu arteritis are twice as high in women.
The research calls for a paradigm shift in understanding and treating PVD, emphasizing the need for sex-specific approaches in prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. By recognizing and addressing these disparities, healthcare professionals can develop more targeted interventions that improve outcomes for women with peripheral vascular diseases. The findings underscore the importance of considering gender differences in vascular health and highlight the urgent need for more inclusive research and clinical practices to ensure equitable healthcare for all patients.
