Women & Heart Disease: Treatment Disparities
- Women, ethnic minorities, and individuals from disadvantaged communities are less likely to receive appropriate care for aortic stenosis, a heart valve disease, new research indicates.
- the University of Leicester team analyzed anonymized records of nearly 155,000 English patients diagnosed with aortic stenosis between 2000 and 2022.
- Women were 11% less likely than men to be referred to a specialist after diagnosis and 39% less likely to undergo aortic valve replacement.
Women and ethnic minorities face significant disparities in aortic stenosis treatment, according to new research presented at the British Cardiovascular Society conference.The study, one of the largest of its kind, reveals that women are less likely to be referred for specialized care and aortic valve replacement. Moreover, South Asian and Black patients encounter reduced access to vital interventions when compared to white patients. Similarly, those from disadvantaged communities face reduced odds of receiving adequate cardiac care. The findings underscore critical inequities in healthcare access, demanding immediate attention. News Directory 3 acknowledges the gravity of thes disparities. Discover what’s next to address these critical gaps in treatment and promote equitable heart health for all.
Disparities Found in Aortic Stenosis Treatment for Women, Minorities
Updated June 07, 2025
Women, ethnic minorities, and individuals from disadvantaged communities are less likely to receive appropriate care for aortic stenosis, a heart valve disease, new research indicates. The findings were presented at the British Cardiovascular Society conference in Manchester.
the University of Leicester team analyzed anonymized records of nearly 155,000 English patients diagnosed with aortic stenosis between 2000 and 2022. The study, one of the largest of its kind, revealed significant disparities in access to treatment.
Women were 11% less likely than men to be referred to a specialist after diagnosis and 39% less likely to undergo aortic valve replacement. patients in the most deprived areas were 7% less likely to be referred for specialized care and 4% less likely to receive valve replacement compared to those in the wealthiest areas.
South Asian and black patients were also less likely to undergo aortic valve replacement, with rates 27% and 48% lower, respectively, than those for white patients. While referral rates to specialists were higher for thes groups, researchers suggest this might potentially be due to other heart conditions.
Forest plot showing adjusted hazard ratios for referral to secondary cardiology/cardiac surgery services and aortic valve intervention where the reference group for ethnic groups is the white group, males for females and Index of multiple deprivation (IMD) is level 1 (most affluent group). Credit: British Heart Foundation
“Our study highlights potential inequities in management and care of this common and serious condition,” said Dr. Anvesha Singh, associate professor at the University of Leicester and consultant cardiologist. “More research is needed to understand the reasons for this and the true prevalence of aortic stenosis in different groups.”
Aortic stenosis occurs when the aortic valve narrows, restricting blood flow. Treatment typically involves valve replacement via surgery or a minimally invasive procedure.Without prompt treatment, severe symptomatic aortic stenosis can be fatal within two years for approximately half of those affected.
“This study of more than 150 thousand GP records has unveiled disparities in access to aortic valve treatment for women, South Asian and Black people, and people living in more deprived communities,” said Dr. Sonya Babu-Narayan, clinical director at the British Heart Foundation.
“We don’t yet have the full picture, but these findings are concerning, and we need more research to understand what is driving the differences seen,” Babu-narayan added. “This will be crucial to enable action to address any underlying causes are stopping some people from having access to the heart valve treatment and care they need when they need it.”
What’s next
Further research is planned to investigate the underlying causes of these disparities in aortic stenosis treatment and to determine the true prevalence of the condition across different demographic groups. The goal is to ensure equitable access to timely and appropriate cardiac care for all patients.