Perspective calls for cardiovascular research and care to address sex differences

A Perspective in Nature Medicine calls for cardiovascular research to better incorporate sex as a biological variable and translate mechanistic insights into diagnostics and therapeutics. The authors note that cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death in women, while evidence guiding care largely derives from studies dominated by men and male-pattern disease phenotypes.

The article highlights spontaneous coronary artery dissection, Takotsubo syndrome and coronary vasomotor disorders as conditions that disproportionately affect women. Historically under-recognized as distinct clinical entities, these conditions remain understudied, with limited mechanistic understanding and few evidence-based therapeutic strategies. The authors argue that distinct female cardiovascular physiology is rarely incorporated into clinical decision-making.

The proposed roadmap emphasizes research into sex-biased mechanisms and emerging technologies to strengthen the evidence base for women's cardiovascular care. This is a Perspective, not a clinical trial or guideline; the available preview reports no sample size, quantitative outcomes or tested treatment recommendations. Its implications concern research priorities rather than evidence supporting an immediate change in clinical management.