Cardiac Anatomy: Male vs Female

Prof Eva Gerdts (University of Bergen, Norway) explores key sex differences in cardiac structure and their impact on diagnosis. Women generally have smaller hearts and arteries, requiring sex-specific thresholds to accurately detect hypertrophy and atrial enlargement. Misinterpretation can delay recognition of early, reversible organ damage. Prof Gerdts also stresses that women’s symptoms, such as breathlessness, are often dismissed as lifestyle-related, leading to underdiagnosis. Objective testing and awareness of sex-specific differences are essential for timely cardiovascular prevention and care.