The gender data gap in women’s cardiovascular health research in Aotearoa New Zealand: a call to action

Cardiovascular disease remains a leading cause of mortality among women in Aotearoa New Zealand, yet significant gaps persist in our understanding of how heart disease uniquely affects women. A systematic review of women’s cardiovascular health in Aotearoa New Zealand revealed a concerning pattern: not a lack of cardiovascular research, but a persistent failure to adequately examine, report and analyse gender-specific data. Most studies provided minimal gender analysis beyond demographic representation, and many documented that women receive less treatment than men without exploring why these disparities exist or their clinical implications. This “gender data gap” mirrors international patterns of women’s under-representation in cardiovascular research and widespread underdiagnosis and undertreatment. The consequences are profound: clinical guidelines fail to address women’s cardiovascular presentations, systemic barriers remain invisible and healthcare providers lack the evidence base for gender-responsive care. For Māori and Pacific women, inadequate gender analysis compounds intersecting inequities. We present actionable recommendations for researchers, funders and publishers, including appropriate sample sizing for equal explanatory power, mandatory sex-disaggregated reporting, culturally responsive research practices and interrogation of observed gender differences. Closing the gender data gap is essential for health equity and justice for all Aotearoa New Zealand women.