A new hospital-based study reveals that heart disease is a far deadlier threat to women in Pakistan than previously understood. Female patients face delayed diagnoses, more severe symptoms, and higher mortality rates than men, according to research published in npj Women’s Health.
The study analyzed data from over 14,800 patients treated at the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD) between October 2022 and June 2024.
It found that women, despite sometimes presenting at younger ages, were more likely to suffer from complex heart conditions such as valvular heart disease—particularly mitral valve disease—and had worse post-operative outcomes.
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Women admitted with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) also had significantly higher rates of diabetes, hypertension, and death, along with longer treatment delays. Researchers emphasized that women in Pakistan are often underdiagnosed, referred late for surgery, and excluded from clinical trials.
With cardiovascular disease rising fastest in low- and middle-income countries, the authors warned that Pakistan’s lack of gender-specific cardiac data is a major barrier to effective care. They called for early screening programs, greater female inclusion in research, and urgent health policy reforms to reduce gender disparities in treatment and improve outcomes for women nationwide.
