Gender-based differences in cardiac disease

It has been observed that the incidence of heart failure and Brugada Syndrome are higher in men, while women are more likely to have QT interval prolongation and develop Torsades de Pointes (TdP). Over the past decade, new studies have improved our understanding of the mechanisms of abnormal repolarization and the relationship between gender differences in cardiac repolarization and presentation of clinical syndromes. Nevertheless, the causes of gender-based differences in cardiac disease are still not completely clear. This review paper briefly summarizes what is currently known about gender differences in heart failure, Brugada Syndrome and long QT Syndrome from molecular mechanisms to clinical presentations.