Secondary Prevention After Acute Coronary Syndromes in Women: Tailored Management and Cardiac Rehabilitation

Abstract

Secondary prevention after acute coronary syndromes is the key strategy to reduce the residual cardiovascular disease risk. A tailored assessment is necessary to suggest the best management and treatment for patients. Sex and gender differences should be strongly considered during cardiovascular evaluation and risk estimation. Indeed, women have a worse outcome than men and are less likely to receive appropriate treatment and evidence-based management. Proper lifestyle management, guideline-directed medical therapy, risk factor management, and cardiac rehabilitation should be recommended early after an acute event in women to reduce the high risk of recurrent events and mortality and improve quality of life. Women-focused cardiac rehabilitation and secondary prevention represent a necessary step in the management and treatment of patients to ensure the best evidence-based care after acute coronary syndromes. This review offers a critical, updated, and comprehensive overview of the appropriate strategies for secondary prevention in women after acute coronary syndromes and long-term treatment, with a focus on cardiac rehabilitation programs. Furthermore, gaps in evidence on this topic and practical recommendations will be provided.