Beyond Sex-Based Differences: Exploring the Complexities of Aortic Stenosis in Women

Sex is an important biological variable in the pathophysiology of cardiovascular disease. ^, In fact, it could determine great differences in manifestation, treatment, and outcomes of several heart disorders. At the level of the aortic valve, there are sex-specific factors related to the pathogenesis of aortic stenosis (AS) that influence hemodynamics changes resulting from pressure overload response, and they should be considered in the management of patients. Despite the fact that sex-based differences in AS exist, they are often not fully recognized and understood, leading to unequal treatment outcomes between males and females. ^,

This issue of the International Journal of Cardiovascular Sciences presents a comprehensive review of the growing evidence on sex disparities, from the pathogenesis to the treatment of severe degenerative AS, focusing on women.

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