Heart Failure with Reduced Ejection Fraction in Women: Epidemiology, Outcomes, and Treatment

Gina Mentzer; Eileen M Hsich

doi:10.1016/j.hfc.2018.08.003

Heart Failure with Reduced Ejection Fraction in Women: Epidemiology, Outcomes, and Treatment

Heart Fail Clin. 2019 Jan;15(1):19-27. doi: 10.1016/j.hfc.2018.08.003. Epub 2018 Oct 24.

Authors

Gina Mentzer¹, Eileen M Hsich²

Affiliations

¹ Pioneer Heart Institute, Cardiovascular Clinic of Nebraska, LLC, Lincoln, NE 68526, USA. Electronic address: gina.mentzer@gmail.com.
² Heart and Vascular Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, 9500 Euclid Avenue, J3-4, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA.

Abstract

There are millions of people affected by heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) as diagnosed with ejection fraction 40% or less by imaging. Established therapies have been proven through clinical trials on lifestyle interventions, medications, and devices for HFrEF to improve quality of life, heart function, and survival. Although there are more men than women suffering with HFrEF, there are no prospectively proven, sex-specific guideline therapies because women have been underrepresented in clinical trials. Current recommendations for medications in women with HFrEF are described in this article.

Keywords: Cardiomyopathies; Sex differences; Systolic heart failure; Women.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Female
Heart Failure* / epidemiology
Heart Failure* / physiopathology
Heart Failure* / psychology
Heart Failure* / therapy
Humans
Patient Care Management / methods*
Practice Guidelines as Topic
Prevalence
Quality of Life*
Sex Factors
Stroke Volume*
Women's Health

Grants and funding

R01 HL141892/HL/NHLBI NIH HHS/United States