Gender, socioeconomic and ethnic/racial disparities in cardiovascular disease: a time for change

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality rates have declined steadily over the past few decades but gender, socioeconomic and ethnic/racial disparities have not. These disparities impede cardiovascular health care reaching all those in need. The origins of disparities in CVD are numerous and wide-ranging, having largely evolved from inequalities in society. Similarly, disparities in CVD, interventions and outcomes will also vary depending on the minority or disadvantaged group. For this reason, strategies aimed at reducing such disparities must be stratified according to the target group, while keeping in mind that these groups are not mutually exclusive. There is a pressing need to move beyond what can be inferred from traditional cardiovascular risk factor profiling toward implementation of interventions designed to address the needs of these populations that will eventuate in a reduction of disparities in morbidity and mortality from CVD. This will require targeted and sustainable actions. Only by ensuring timely and equitable access to care for all through increased awareness and active participation can we start to close the gap and deliver appropriate, acceptable and just care to all, regardless of gender, socioeconomic status or ethnicity/race.