Partnership to improve women’s heart health

The Heart Foundation and Her Heart have announced their first partnership, uniting efforts to reduce the impact of cardiovascular disease in women and drive change more effectively.

Heart disease in Australian women remains under-recognised, underdiagnosed, and under-researched, despite being a leading cause of death – claiming the equivalent of nearly one woman’s life every hour.

Through this partnership, both organisations will enhance efforts to raise awareness of women’s heart disease, improve treatment and prevention strategies, and lead crucial research into gender-specific health initiatives.

A National Report Card created by Her Heart and published in 2023 analysed all the research in the area of cardiovascular disease in women.

It found more than half (54 per cent) had never seen their doctor for a general hearth health check, and 91 per cent believed there was not enough public awareness around women and heart disease.

Heart disease research and treatments often overlook the unique risks women face.

The Heart Foundation is presently funding 109 projects led by women researchers, including 12 projects focused specifically on women’s heart health.

Heart Foundation funded researcher Sarah Zaman, an associate professor at The Westmead Applied Research Centre within the University of Sydney specialising in women’s heart health, said the partnership was good news for women.

“Heart disease in general has historically been thought of as a male disease and so when people picture the classical person having a heart attack, they might think of a middle-aged man having a heart attack.

“However, what we now know is that heart disease is the leading cause of death for women on a global scale and there’s female predominant causes of heart attacks. These types of heart attacks have been really under researched and under-recognised.

“The Heart Foundation and Her Heart are the two organisations making the biggest impact in Australia in this space, so together they will accomplish even greater things.”

The new Heart Foundation and Her Heart partnership will raise awareness of women’s heart disease through targeted campaigns and accessible resources, and advocate for gender-specific research, funding, and healthcare policies, and Support community-led initiatives that drive better prevention, diagnosis, and care.

“We are proud to partner with the Heart Foundation to drive real change for women’s heart health,” Her Heart founder and chief executive officer Professor Linda Worrall-Carter said.

“By combining our expertise, we can amplify awareness, improve early detection, and ensure women receive the care they deserve.

“This partnership brings together two leading organisations dedicated to improving cardiovascular health. By working together, we can accelerate progress in research, prevention, and advocacy, ultimately saving more women’s lives.”