American Heart Association works to improve care for women with chronic kidney disease
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is known to significantly increase a person’s risk of heart disease or stroke. However, women with CKD often receive a delayed diagnosis and are less likely to receive a kidney transplant. It is with these trends in mind that multiple researchers collaborated for a new American Heart Association (AHA) scientific statement. The document, published in Circulation, highlights the importance of diagnosing CKD early in women and includes new recommendations designed to improve care for them going forward.[1]
“Many cases go undiagnosed in women because common tests and research do not always reflect women’s biology and life stages,” Eman Y. Gohar, PhD, MS, volunteer chair of the scientific statement’s writing group and an assistant professor of medicine with Vanderbilt University Medical Center, said in a statement. “Biological differences include genetics, sex chromosomes, hormones, immune-system responses and differences in how the body processes and responds to medication. We also need to acknowledge female-specific factors that do not apply in the same way to male patients. These include menstrual health, pregnancy, postpartum changes and menopause, as well as socioeconomic factors like financial barriers or cultural expectations. Each of these creates considerations that are unique to women and may require tailored care.”
The statement emphasizes that women face many challenges when it comes to receiving kidney care. If clinicians fail to keep these challenges in mind, they risk letting patients with CKD go untreated until symptoms get much worse.
“Women are not simply smaller versions of men,” Gohar added. “Their biology, reproductive life stages and responses to medication may differ, and those differences need to be reflected in clinical care and research.”
The authors also noted that kidney health is closely connected to reproductive health. For example, pregnant women with CKD face an increased risk of certain complications. Clinicians can try to combat these risks by working with women to manage their blood pressure, blood sugar and body weight.
The new scientific statement also puts a spotlight on the relationship between a woman’s kidneys and her cardiovascular health. Back in 2023, the AHA wrote about this topic at length when it explored the concept of cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic (CKM) syndrome. CKM syndrome involves nearly every major organ in the body, the group explained, and what happens to one part of the body can have a direct impact on other parts.
Another takeaway from the new AHA document is the fact that diabetes is the leading cause of CKD. In fact, some research has suggested that women with diabetes will progress to kidney failure at a much higher rate than men with diabetes.
Click here for the full scientific statement.
Michael has more than 19 years of experience as a professional writer and editor. He has written at length about cardiology, radiology, artificial intelligence and other key healthcare topics.