New findings from a collaborative analysis involving researchers at Harvard Medical School show gender differences in cardiovascular prevention practices. In clinical encounters, physicians were more likely to urge women to adjust lifestyle and pursue weight loss, while men were more often prescribed statins to reduce the risk of heart disease. The work was presented at a major scientific meeting organized by leading regional cardiology societies and networks.
The analysis drew on the United States NHANES dataset collected between 2017 and 2020, encompassing 8512 adults aged 40 to 79. Among these participants, 2924 carried a heightened risk of cardiovascular disease and qualified for consideration of statin therapy based on contemporary risk criteria.
When the data were parsed, several gender-based patterns emerged. Men were about 20% more likely than women to be prescribed statins. Women, in contrast, were about 27% more likely to be advised to pursue weight reduction and around 38% more likely to be encouraged to engage in physical activity. Dietary guidance also differed by gender: women were roughly 27% more likely than men to be advised to cut salt intake and about 11% more likely to receive guidance to reduce total fat or caloric intake. All analyses controlled for age, baseline cardiovascular risk, body mass index, depressive symptoms, and education level.
Researchers suggest that some of the inconsistency in recommendations may stem from lingering misperceptions about cardiovascular risk that disproportionately affect women. The findings imply a broader need for health professionals to deliver equally robust prevention counseling to both women and men, ensuring that risk assessment and preventive strategies are applied consistently across genders.
In the broader clinical context, the study underscores the value of aligning treatment decisions with current guidelines, improving risk communication, and offering personalized lifestyle support alongside pharmacologic options when appropriate. The results contribute to ongoing efforts to optimize cardiovascular prevention across diverse populations and healthcare settings in North America and beyond, with implications for practice patterns in the United States, Canada, and similar healthcare systems. Citations accompany the presentation to reflect the researchers’ affiliations and the event organizers responsible for disseminating these insights.