BBB webinar: Eva Gerdts

Eva Gerdts
Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen

Sex influences the cardiovascular (CV) system throughout our lifespan, starting already in the fetal phase. Sex differences in cardiac size and function have been detected, and integrated in guidelines on diagnosis of cardiac disorders by cardiovascular imaging. Sex differences in CV risk factors are also well documented, but are less implemented in guidelines for prevention of CV disease. From this the notion that women are at low risk for CV disease arises, and in Norway many high risk women are not detected until the clinical event strikes. Recent research has demonstrated that women and men develop different variants of common types of cardiac disorders such as hypertensive heart disease, heart failure, atrial fibrillation and ischemic heart disease. While treatment of the male variant is often well established, the underlying mechanisms of the female variant are often less understood, less studied and less established. In this seminar I will give an overview of current knowledge and knowledge gaps for optimal prevention and treatment of heart disease in women.

Chairperson: Helge Wiig, Department of Biomedicine