Cardiovascular Genetics in Women

Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of global morbidity and mortality in men and women. Women may exhibit a heightened susceptibility to some cardiovascular diseases due to their distinctive physiological characteristics and during critical life milestones. Some cardiovascular diseases specific to pregnancy and others showing women-predominance present specific genetic features. Cardiovascular risk factors such as obesity, blood pressure, and hormonal changes are also under genetic control that is increasingly investigated for specific risk in women, not only during pregnancy. The majority of cardiovascular diseases present a complex genetic underpinning involving rare and common genetic variants that contribute to the risk through cumulative and potentially interacting effects with non-genetic risk factors. Understanding the genetic architecture of CVDs and cardiometabolic traits in women is crucial to expect the implementation of sex and gender equality in precision medicine. This review aims to provide an overview of the current knowledge about the genetics cardiovascular diseases in women, with the objective of enhancing awareness and understanding of their pathophysiology.