Telemedicine in women’s cardiovascular health: perspectives, innovations and challenges
Abstract
This document explores the role of telemedicine in advancing cardiovascular health for women, highlighting its potential to address gender disparities in diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up. Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death among women, yet they remain underrepresented in clinical trials, resulting in limited sex-specific data and suboptimal care. Telemedicine offers remote access to personalized diagnostic, therapeutic, and preventive services, improving continuity of care, treatment adherence, and quality of life. Digital tools enable early risk assessment, tailored educational interventions, and virtual programs for exercise, nutrition, and smoking cessation, all adapted to individual risk profiles. In acute settings, telemedicine facilitates rapid triage, remote ECG transmission, and real-time decision support, reducing delays and improving outcomes. For chronic conditions, wearable devices and home sensors allow continuous monitoring and dynamic therapy adjustment, with particular benefit for women with heart failure and other chronic diseases. Technological innovations, including artificial intelligence, mobile apps, and patient engagement platforms, expand the scope of telemedicine, supporting predictive models and personalized strategies. Despite its promise, widespread adoption faces structural, cultural, and technological barriers, such as limited digital literacy, a lack of gender-sensitive protocols, and data protection concerns. Overcoming these challenges requires integrated efforts from policymakers, healthcare professionals, patients, and industry to develop inclusive, evidence-based telemedicine models. Telemedicine represents a concrete opportunity to reduce gender inequalities and improve clinical outcomes for women.
Key words: Women; Telemedicine; Cardiovascular Health; Gender Disparities; Remote Monitoring; Digital Health; Artificial Intelligence; Barriers and Challenges.
