Revista Científica de la Sociedad Española de Medicina de Urgencias y Emergencias

Servicio de Urgencias, Hospital Universitario Central de Oviedo, Asturias, Spain.

Cardiovascular diseases, which are the main cause of death in industrialized countries,
have traditionally been considered to threaten mainly men. Although the approach to
treating women with these diseases has mimicked treatment in men, recent studies have
brought to light a number of differences in cardiovascular physiopathology between
men and women, in their responses to treatment, and in the attitudes of the medical
profession. This review discusses possible gender differences in the management of 4
highly prevalent cardiovascular events that bring patients to the emergency department:
chest pain, atrial fibrillation, heart failure, and acute coronary syndrome.