A recent study from Medtronic revealed a lack of awareness about heart valve disease and risk factors in women.

This study investigated women’s awareness and knowledge of risk factors, treatment patterns, and preventive care practices related to valvular heart disease. The study was supported by Women as One and conducted by Wakefield Research among 1,000 women over the age of 50 in the United States.

Nina Goodhart, Medtronic’s senior vice president of cardiac and aortic structures, emphasized the need to understand and effectively address women’s health care challenges.

“To address the ever-increasing challenges faced by female patients in healthcare, we need a thorough understanding of issues surrounding female patient awareness and its impact on women’s health,” Goodhart said in a news release. stated in the release. “Awareness about valvular heart disease deserves broader attention in the United States, especially given that many women over the age of 50 are at increased risk of developing valvular heart disease.” It highlights the need for discovery and access to appropriate care.”

Study participants were a diverse sample of women aged 50 and older, with 53% aged 50-65 and 47% aged 66 and older. Furthermore, her 23.5% of respondents were black or Hispanic.

Survey results reveal limitations in awareness, barriers to care, and racial disparities

Findings include:

• limited awareness: Despite the prevalence of cardiovascular disease among women, there remains a significant lack of awareness regarding heart valve conditions, particularly aortic stenosis (AS). Only 30% of women over 50 have heard of AS, and 26% have heard of common heart-related diseases such as coronary artery disease, congenital heart disease, and heart valve disease. I did not know.
• Racial disparities: Women of color were shown to have lower levels of awareness than white women. Only 10% of black women and 21% of Hispanic women have heard of AS, compared to 33% of white women.
• Fewer referrals for diagnosis and treatment: Diagnosis and treatment referral rates were surprisingly low, even among women with risk factors. Even though 82% of women over 65 have a chronic condition that increases their risk of AS, the majority (68%) have never been referred to a cardiologist or had a heart disease risk assessment. There wasn’t.
• Barriers when looking for a care: Women’s reluctance to seek cardiovascular care stems from a variety of factors, including fear and anxiety about seeking medical care and concerns that their symptoms will be ignored by health care providers. These barriers prevented timely access to diagnosis and treatment. More than two in five women cite fear and anxiety as a factor, and 15% feel their doctors ignore their symptoms.
• Prioritize effective treatment: Women diagnosed with valvular heart disease expressed a preference for treatments proven to be effective for their gender, particularly minimally invasive surgery such as transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). Nearly half (45%) cited minimally invasive procedures as a top priority, emphasizing the importance of customized treatment options. The majority (75%) said they would be very likely or very likely to ask their doctor about an alternative treatment if one was more effective for women than the one their doctor recommended .

“Compared to male patients, female patients often present with more advanced symptoms of valvular heart disease, highlighting how women can best be educated about early warning signs and treatment options.” ” said Dr. Roxana Mehran, Co-Founder and President. Women as One said: “These findings provide an opportunity to build better partnerships with communities experiencing the most inequalities and provide a pathway to refine policies and systems that lead to better care.”

Medtronic, Women as One and others are working to improve health equity for women with valvular heart disease, including educational campaigns and women-focused clinical trial research with policy makers and government officials. Standing in the lead. Women as One is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to advance medical talent and encourage diversity of thought in medicine by providing unique professional opportunities for female cardiac surgeons.

RELATED: Biden signs executive order for women’s health research and innovation

Medtronic presented the results of the SMART trial at the American College of Cardiology’s Scientific Sessions.

“Driving change to address inequities in health care cannot be done alone. When it comes to women’s heart valve disease, Medtronic is partnering with the clinical community and organizations like Women as One to improve health outcomes. We are proud to identify opportunities to improve equity in the United States,” Goodhart said. “We look forward to further demonstrating this effort today at the American College of Cardiology Academic Session with results from the SMART trial, the latest effort to address the underrepresentation of women in cardiovascular health research. ”