Timely diagnosis makes a difference.

Symptomatic severe aortic stenosis (ssAS) may be difficult to diagnose, especially among women, and the risks of it going untreated are too high to live with.1,2


Exclamation icon Indications, Safety, and Warnings
Woman
Only
50%
of patients with ssAS undergo AVR within 2 years3

Undertreatment is a concern among all ssAS patients but especially in women.3


  • Patients often attribute symptoms as a sign of advanced aging.3
  • Rates of missed diagnoses increase among underrepresented minority groups and women.3
  • Approximately 66% of women and minority patients with symptomatic severe low-gradient AS go undetected and are not referred for aortic valve replacement (AVR)3. Paradoxical low-flow, low gradient ssAS is predominantly seen more in women.2

Why are women more challenging to diagnose?


Aortic stenosis pathophysiology and symptoms appear differently by sex,1,2,4  making it more challenging to achieve an early diagnosis and timely treatment:


Aortic Stenosis Pathophysiology and Symptomology2


WOMEN MEN
Clinical presentation Shortness of breath, dizziness, syncope, fatigue Angina
Older Younger
More advanced heart failure symptoms Less advanced heart failure symptoms
Pathophysiology Fibrocalcific aortic stenosis, less aortic valve calcification Calcific aortic stenosis, more aortic valve calcification
Concentric hypertrophy Eccentric hypertrophy
Paradoxical low flow/low gradient AS High gradient or classical low flow/low gradient AS
Anatomy Smaller annulus Larger annulus
  1. Nau DP , Ellis JJ , Kline-Rogers EM, Mallya U, Eagle KA, Erickson SR. Gender and perceived severity of cardiac disease: evidence that women are “tougher.” Am J Med. November 2005;118(11):1256–1261.
  2. Iribarren AC, AlBadri A, Wei J, et al. Sex differences in aortic stenosis: Identification of knowledge gaps for sex-specific personalized medicine. Am Heart J Plus. September 2022;21:100197. 
  3. Reisman AM, Elmariah S. A Review of "Access to Care" Issues in Aortic Stenosis Patients: A Negative Report Card. Struct Heart. 2024 Aug 17;9(1):100351.
  4. Tribouilloy C, Bohbot Y, Rusinaru D, et al. Excess Mortality and Undertreatment of Women With Severe Aortic Stenosis. J Am Heart Assoc. January 5, 2021;10(1):e018816.

UC202600898 EN 06/2025