A narrative review on policies and practices for gender equity in cardiovascular disease prevention and management

Abstract

Women’s health global agenda has recently reformulated to address more accurate cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) prevention, diagnosis and treatment. The aim of the present work was to review the hitherto global and national policies and practices which address gender equality in health with the focus oriented towards CVDs in women. Scientific databases and health organizations’ websites that present/discuss policies and initiatives targeting to enhance a sex-centered approach regarding general health and/or specifically cardiac health care were reviewed in a systematic way. In total, n=53 relevant documents were selected. The selected policies and initiatives included position statements, national action plans, evidence-based guidelines, guidance/recommendations, awareness campaigns, regulations/legislations and state-of-the art reports by national/international projects and conferences. The target audiences of large stakeholders (e.g., American Heart Association, European Society of Cardiology, Centre of Disease Control and Prevention) were female citizens, health professionals and researchers. Much as policy makers have recognized the sex/gender gap in CVD field, there is still much to be done. Thereby, tailor-made strategies,shouldbe designed, evaluated and delivered on a global, yet most importantly a national basis, to achieve gender equity against CVDs.