Women's Health World Conference 2026

Abstract

Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death in women worldwide — yet women continue to be underdiagnosed, undertreated, and underrepresented in cardiovascular research. The gender gap in cardiovascular outcomes is not simply a biological issue. It is a structural one.

Traditional risk models were built predominantly on male cohorts. Symptom archetypes were defined by male presentations. Diagnostic thresholds often fail to capture female-specific physiology, particularly across hormonal transitions such as perimenopause and menopause. The result is a system that frequently identifies cardiovascular disease in women only once it becomes clinically advanced.

This keynote challenges the reactive paradigm and proposes a redesign of cardiovascular prevention through a gender-equity lens.

Emerging imaging biomarkers — including visceral adiposity quantification, hepatic steatosis assessment, vascular measurements, muscle quality indices, and early structural changes detectable by MRI — offer an opportunity to detect cardiometabolic risk in women before overt disease manifests. When integrated with blood biomarkers, wearable-derived physiological metrics, and structured digital reporting systems, these tools can shift cardiovascular care from late-stage intervention to proactive longevity strategy.

However, technology alone will not close the gender gap.

Dr Lisa Sorger will explore:

• How sex-specific differences in fat distribution and metabolic acceleration influence cardiovascular risk
• The under-recognition of microvascular and atypical presentations in women
• The cardiometabolic inflection point of menopause
• The limitations of existing risk calculators for female populations
• The ethical and equity implications of advanced preventive diagnostics
• Governance frameworks for AI-assisted imaging that preserve safety and access

Drawing on executive leadership experience across public health systems and longevity imaging innovation in Australia, this keynote reframes cardiovascular prevention as infrastructure — not screening. The goal is not more testing, but better system design.

True gender equity in cardiovascular longevity requires:

• Diagnostic models built around female biology
• Early, data-informed risk identification
• Integrated preventive pathways
• Equitable access across socioeconomic boundaries
• Policy alignment between innovation and public health

Women are living longer — but not necessarily healthier. If we fail to redesign cardiovascular prevention with women at the centre, longevity gains will be accompanied by prolonged morbidity.

Gender equity in cardiovascular care is not an advocacy add-on. It is a measure of whether our health systems are scientifically honest, ethically governed, and future-ready.