Women derive greater cardiovascular and mortality benefits from physical activity than men, achieving maximal survival benefit at 140 minutes per week compared to 300 minutes for men.
Does physical activity yield sex-specific physiological responses and clinical outcomes across different cardiovascular disease phenotypes?
Women derive greater cardiovascular and mortality benefits from physical activity than men even at lower volumes, highlighting the need for tailored, sex-specific exercise recommendations and improved access to cardiac rehabilitation.
To synthesize current evidence on sex-related differences in physiological responses, clinical outcomes, and implementation of exercise training across different cardiovascular disease phenotypes. Physical activity provides benefits regardless of the patient’s sex, improves cardiovascular health and overall quality of life. Studies have found that women experience a relatively greater mortality risk reduction compared to men. Women gain greater cardiovascular and mortality benefits fromphysical activity than men, even with less exercise. Biological and hormonaldifferences shape distinct exercise responses and outcomes between sexes.Cardiac rehabilitation is highly effective for women but faces low referral andparticipation rates. Tailored, sex-specific exercise recommendations areneeded to optimize cardiovascular health in women.
Levitzky et al. (Wed,) conducted a review in Cardiovascular Disease. Physical activity was evaluated. Women derive greater cardiovascular and mortality benefits from physical activity than men, achieving maximal survival benefit at 140 minutes per week compared to 300 minutes for men.