# Women's cardiovascular disease awareness in Europe

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/womens-cardiovascular-disease-awareness-in-europe
> Updated: 2026-09-29T13:58:59.000Z. Sources: 4. Developments: 2.

Medical experts and public health organizations in Belgium and the Netherlands are raising awareness about cardiovascular disease being the leading cause of death for women. Research indicates that women often present with atypical symptoms—such as dizziness, nausea, extreme fatigue, or discomfort in the neck and jaw—rather than traditional chest pain, which can lead to dangerous delays in diagnosis.

Experts attribute these diagnostic gaps to historical medical research that predominantly focused on male physiology. In the Netherlands, institutions like the University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG) and UMC Utrecht are working to improve provider education and expand diagnostic investigations. To highlight these disparities, the Hartstichting organized ‘Dress Red Day’ to draw attention to the gender differences in heart disease presentation and the need for better sex-disaggregated data.

## Timeline

### 2026-09-29: Healthcare providers highlight diagnostic gaps in women's heart disease

Medical experts are addressing diagnostic gaps in women's heart health, noting that female cardiovascular symptoms are often more subtle and frequently misidentified compared to male presentations.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/healthcare-providers-highlight-diagnostic-gaps-in-womens-heart-disease

### 2026-09-27: Cardiovascular disease identified as leading cause of death for women

Medical experts highlight that cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of death for women, noting that atypical symptoms and historical research biases often lead to delayed diagnoses.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/cardiovascular-disease-identified-as-leading-cause-of-death-for-women

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Cite as: Women's cardiovascular disease awareness in Europe. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/womens-cardiovascular-disease-awareness-in-europe