A comprehensive scientific statement published in Circulation reveals profound disparities in peripheral vascular disease (PVD) diagnosis and treatment between men and women, exposing critical gaps in medical research and healthcare delivery. The study, led by Dr. Esther S.H. Kim from Wake Forest University, highlights the urgent need for sex-specific approaches to vascular health.
The research demonstrates that women experience PVD differently across multiple vascular conditions. In peripheral artery disease (PAD), women are more likely to have atypical symptoms and experience greater functional decline compared to men. Black women face particularly challenging outcomes, with a 27.6% lifetime PAD risk compared to 19% for white women, and consistently lower rates of receiving evidence-based treatments.
Aortic diseases reveal even more stark disparities. Women are often diagnosed at later stages with more severe conditions, and despite lower initial incidence rates, they face disproportionately higher risks of severe complications. In the U.K. Small Aneurysm Trial, women were three times more likely than men to experience aneurysm rupture at the same aneurysm size.
The statement identifies several key recommendations to address these disparities. Researchers emphasize the critical need for clinical trials that adequately represent women, analyze data by sex, and establish optimal treatment strategies that account for women's unique physiological characteristics.
Specific recommendations include enhancing clinician education about sex-specific vascular disease differences, improving screening strategies, and ensuring women have access to guideline-recommended therapies. The research also highlights conditions like vasculitis, where women are significantly more affected, with some types occurring up to five times more frequently in women.
Dr. Kim emphasized the broader implications, noting that these disparities significantly impact women's quality of life and long-term health outcomes. The scientific statement serves as a crucial call to action for the medical community to develop more nuanced, gender-aware approaches to vascular health research and treatment.
