In the U. S., about 3.6 million women are affected by heart failure. However, women account for only 25% of heart failure participant studies. Most of the advances in heart failure and the treatments developed for heart failure have not been targeted for women.

• Women are more likely to have heart failure without a change in their ejection fraction (the amount of blood the heart pumps with each heart beat)
• Heart failure in women is often linked to high blood pressure, blockage(s) in the heart blood vessels, heart disease, diabetes, and/or problems with the heart valve(s)
• Heart failure and depression are associated and occurs regularly in women
• Although symptoms are similar among men and women, women may have more shortness of breath and greater difficulty exercising than men
• Women appear to survive longer than men with heart failure
• Older women are more likely to have heart failure without a change in their ejection fraction

• Older age, >73 years old
• Long-standing high-blood pressure
• Diabetes Mellitus
• Peripartum cardiomyopathy is unique to women of childbearing age
• Heart disease
• Depression
• Heart valve disease
• Being overweight
• Illegal/street drug use

• Uncontrolled or poorly controlled high blood pressure
• Factors you inherit from your relatives
• Smoking/tobacco use
• Alcohol abuse
• Being overweight
• Irregular heart rhythms such as atrial fibrillation that have not been treated
• Heart muscle damage due to heart conditions you are born with, heart attacks, infections, stimulant/addicting medications
• Severe lung diseases like COPD
• Certain medications used to treat cancer (chemotherapy)
• Peripartum cardiomyopathy
• Irregular and/or absent breathing during sleep (sleep apnea)

The diagnosis of heart failure in women is based upon both an exam by your health care provider as well as bloodwork and other tests. Classic signs of heart failure such as shortness of breath, tiredness, swelling in your legs and feet may or may not be present. Women who have heart failure may not have any visible swelling or water retention.

• Blood work- a test called BNP.
• An ultrasound of your heart (echocardiogram) will estimate the amount of blood your heart is pumping, the strength of your heart muscle, and the how the valves in your heart working.
• EKG to check electrical impulses of your heart and look for irregular heart beats
• A heart stress test can help identify heart disease
• A chest x-ray may show fluid in your lungs

Treatment and prevention for heart failure in women focuses on medications, healthy living, and possibly certain dietary adjustments:

• Your health care provider may prescribe new heart failure medications
• Treat high blood pressure and diabetes mellitus early with medications, stress reduction, exercise, and diet.
• Focus on maintaining a healthy lifestyle: quit smoking, drug counseling and sober programs, keep a healthy weight, participate in frequent exercise, follow a heart-healthy diet
• Treat any sleep disorders

Bozkurt, B., & Khalaf, S. (2017). Heart failure in women.Methodist DeBakey Cardiovascular Journal, 13(4), 216–223.https://doi.org/10.14797/mdcj-13-4-216

Farrero, M., Bellumkonda, L., Gómez Otero, I., & Díaz Molina, B. (2021). Sex and heart failure treatment prescription and adherence. Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine, 8, 630141. https://doi.org/10.3389/fcvm.2021.630141

Garay, A., Tapia, J., Anguita, M., Formiga, F., Almenar, L., Crespo-Leiro, M. G., Manzano, L., Muñiz, J., Chaves, J., De Frutos, T., Moliner, P., Corbella, X., Enjuanes-Grau, C., Comín-Colet, J., & Vida-Ic Multicenter Study Investigators, O. (2020). Gender differences in health-related quality of life in patients with systolic heart failure: Results of the VIDA multicenter study.Journal of Clinical Medicine, 9(9), 2825.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/9/9/2825

López-Vilella, R., Marqués-Sulé, E., Laymito Quispe, R., Sánchez-Lázaro, I., Donoso Trenado, V., Martínez Dolz, L., & Almenar Bonet, L. (2021). The female sex confers different prognosis in heart failure: Same mortality but more readmissions. Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine, 8, 618398. https://doi.org/10.3389/fcvm.2021.618398

In the U. S., about 3.6 million women are affected by heart failure. However, women account for only 25% of heart failure participant studies. Most of the advances in heart failure and the therapies developed for heart failure have not been targeted for women.

• Women are more likely to have heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF)
• Heart failure in women is often linked to hypertension, coronary artery disease, diabetes, and heart valve disease
• Heart failure and depression are associated and occurs regularly in women
• Although symptoms are similar among men and women, women may have more shortness of breath and greater difficulty exercising than men
• Women appear to survive longer than men with heart failure

• Older age, >73 years old
• Long-standing hypertension
• Diabetes Mellitus
• Peripartum cardiomyopathy is unique to women of childbearing age
• Coronary artery disease
• Depression
• Heart valve disease
• Obesity
• Illegal drug use

• Uncontrolled or poorly controlled hypertension
• Genetic factors
• Tobacco abuse
• Alcohol abuse
• Obesity
• Uncontrolled irregular heart rhythms such as atrial fibrillation or high-load PVCs
• Heart muscle damage due to congenital abnormalities, heart attacks, infections, methamphetamines
• Severe lung disease (COPD, pulmonary fibrosis)
• Chemotherapy with specific medications (anthracyclines)
• Peripartum cardiomyopathy
• Sleep Disordered Breathing

The diagnosis of heart failure in women is similar to men and is based upon both subjective and objective tests. Classic signs of heart failure such as shortness of breath, fatigue, swelling and edema may or may not be present. Elderly women who have HFpEF may not have any swelling in their body.

• Blood work (BNP).
• An echocardiogram will estimate the amount of blood the heart is pumping, the strength of the heart muscle, and the how the valves in the heart work.
• EKG to check electrical impulses of heart and look for arrythmias
• Stress test can help identify heart disease
• Chest x-ray may show fluid in your lungs.

Treatment and prevention for heart failure in women is similar to men

• Standard heart failure medications
• Treat hypertension and diabetes mellitus early with medication
• Focus on maintaining a healthy lifestyle: quit smoking, undergo drug counseling and sober programs, keep a healthy weight, participate in frequent exercise/activity, follow a heart healthy diet
• Treat any sleep disorders

Bozkurt, B., & Khalaf, S. (2017). Heart failure in women.Methodist DeBakey Cardiovascular Journal, 13 https://doi.org/10.14797/mdcj-13-4-216

Farrero, M., Bellumkonda, L., Gómez Otero, I., & Díaz Molina, B. (2021). Sex and heart failure treatment prescription and adherence. Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine, 8, 630141. https://doi.org/10.3389/fcvm.2021.630141

Garay, A., Tapia, J., Anguita, M., Formiga, F., Almenar, L., Crespo-Leiro, M. G., Manzano, L., Muñiz, J., Chaves, J., De Frutos, T., Moliner, P., Corbella, X., Enjuanes-Grau, C., Comín-Colet, J., & Vida-Ic Multicenter Study Investigators, O. (2020). Gender differences in health-related quality of life in patients with systolic heart failure: Results of the VIDA multicenter study. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 9 (9), 2825. https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/9/9/2825

López-Vilella, R., Marqués-Sulé, E., Laymito Quispe, R., Sánchez-Lázaro, I., Donoso Trenado, V., Martínez Dolz, L., & Almenar Bonet, L. (2021). The female sex confers different prognosis in heart failure: Same mortality but more readmissions. Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine, 8, 618398. https://doi.org/10.3389/fcvm.2021.618398