HUG Launch a Women’s Cardiovascular Health Center

The Hôpitaux universitaires de Genève (HUG) announce the creation of a new Women’s Cardiovascular Health Center, a dedicated initiative designed to improve the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of cardiovascular diseases in women.

Cardiovascular diseases remain the leading cause of death in Switzerland, accounting for approximately 20,000 deaths each year, according to the Federal Office of Public Health. Yet these conditions are still frequently underdiagnosed or diagnosed too late in women, partly because symptoms can differ significantly from those experienced by men.

“Women consult on average 40 minutes later than men in the case of a heart attack, and sometimes up to 12 hours later, because symptoms are often underestimated or misunderstood,” explains Dr Elena Tessitore, cardiologist at HUG and head of the new center.

The initiative aims to address these disparities by focusing on three key priorities:
• identifying cardiovascular diseases specific to women
• raising awareness about heart health at critical hormonal stages — contraception, pregnancy, and menopause
• strengthening screening and prevention strategies

Women also present unique physiological characteristics that influence cardiovascular risk, including smaller coronary arteries and hormonal factors. Conditions such as gestational diabetes or preeclampsia can significantly increase long-term cardiovascular risk.

Integrated within the HUG Cardiovascular Center, the new programme will also support education, prevention, and medical training, while encouraging research into sex-specific cardiovascular differences. The initiative will collaborate with other Swiss centers in Basel, Zurich, and Bern to address complex cases and advance knowledge in women’s cardiovascular health.

By improving awareness, diagnosis, and prevention, the program aims to enhance patient outcomes while reducing the long-term burden of cardiovascular disease.

➡️ Source: Press Release | 📸 ©CanvaLibrary