5th International Conference on Heart and Cardiovascular Diseases

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in women globally, yet women remain underrepresented in cardiovascular clinical trials and frequently experience delayed diagnosis due to atypical symptom presentation. The Women's Heart Health & Sex-Specific Cardiovascular Disease session at international cardiology conference examines sex-specific ASCVD risk factors including adverse pregnancy outcomes (preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, preterm birth) as lifetime cardiovascular risk accelerators, autoimmune disease and cardiovascular risk in women, the cardiovascular consequences of premature menopause, sex differences in ACS presentation and outcomes, SCAD as a predominantly female condition, and the growing evidence for sex-specific treatment response and pharmacokinetics across cardiovascular drug classes.

Key Discussion Areas:

• Adverse pregnancy outcomes as cardiovascular risk accelerators: preeclampsia and gestational diabetes
• Sex differences in ACS presentation, diagnosis, and outcomes
• SCAD (spontaneous coronary artery dissection) in women: pathophysiology and management
• Premature menopause and early cardiovascular risk
• Autoimmune diseases (SLE, RA) and accelerated atherosclerosis in women
• Sex-specific pharmacokinetics and cardiovascular drug response
• Peripartum cardiomyopathy: diagnosis, management, and recurrence risk
• Cardio-obstetrics: multidisciplinary management of high-risk cardiac pregnancy

Why Attend This Session?

Cardiologists, obstetricians, gynaecologists, rheumatologists, and preventive medicine specialists will gain essential insights into sex-specific cardiovascular risk stratification, the cardiac management of pregnancy, and evidence-based approaches to closing the gender gap in cardiovascular diagnosis and treatment.

Related Topics:

• Preventive Cardiology & Cardiovascular Risk Reduction
• Hypertension & Hypertensive Heart Disease
• Cardiometabolic Syndrome & Diabetes
• Acute Coronary Syndromes
• Heart Failure & Cardiomyopathies

Frequently Asked Questions:

1.How does preeclampsia affect long-term cardiovascular risk?

Women with a history of preeclampsia have approximately double the lifetime risk of ischaemic heart disease, stroke, and heart failure compared to those with uncomplicated pregnancies. Preeclampsia is now recognised as a major independent cardiovascular risk factor, warranting lifelong preventive cardiology follow-up.

2. Why are women more likely to be underdiagnosed with heart disease?

Women with ACS more frequently present with atypical symptoms such as fatigue, nausea, jaw pain, and dyspnoea rather than classic chest pain leading to underrecognition, delayed investigation, and undertreatment. Women are also more likely to have microvascular and non-obstructive coronary disease, which is missed on conventional angiography.