Working together for women’s heart health
Two thirds of existing studies on heart disease and cardiovascular events are based on male data. Yet women have unique biological characteristics and undergo numerous hormonal and physiological changes over the course of their lives. Although women make up half of the population, our understanding of their health remains incomplete.
The CHUM and the CHUM Foundation are proud to be working to change that with the help of Fondation Pharmaprix pour la santé des femmes, which is committed to making care more equitable and accessible for all women in Canada.
The Fondation announced a generous contribution of $100,000 on February 26 at the official launch of the Van Horne Pharmaprix. This contribution, along with an innovative partnership between Cardio F (the CHUM’s centre of expertise in women’s cardiovascular health) and 15 participating pharmacist‑owners affiliated with Pharmaprix, has sparked the creation of a pilot project to provide better follow-up care to patients with cardiovascular complications during pregnancy.
An innovative collaboration for improving our understanding of cardiovascular complications in pregnant women
Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, including preeclampsia and gestational hypertension, are complications that involve high blood pressure and require treatment or monitoring during pregnancy and in the year that follows. Gestational diabetes involves abnormal blood glucose levels and can occur in pregnant women without a prior diagnosis of diabetes. These conditions can develop during a pregnancy but may continue postpartum, sometimes resulting in new chronic health issues.
The teams at Cardio F will study 100 women diagnosed with preeclampsia or gestational hypertension over five years.
They plan to assess:
By investing in this transformative program, the CHUM and Fondation Pharmaprix pour la santé des femmes are tackling the complex, oft-neglected challenges of women’s heart health head‑on to advance research and provide these patients with care tailored to their unique needs.
Fondation Pharmaprix pour la santé des femmes is proud to support organizations like the CHUM Foundation and the CHUM’s Cardio F clinic as they work to find new ways to give women better access to care and health services. Our mission is to make women’s health a greater priority in all areas of society. We have committed to investing $50 million in Canada by 2026 to fight some of the most pressing health inequities women face. Our Community Grants Program is one example of how we are working to bridge the equity gap and improve access to equitable and inclusive care for all women.
Women taking their health to heart
Do you want to help the specialists at Cardio F learn more about women’s health? By participating in this study, you’ll help us gather critical data that will drive major medical breakthroughs. Your nearest Pharmaprix pharmacy can give you more information. Together, we’re taking women’s health to heart.
That’s because together, we can go further and empower care and research staff what they need to act faster than disease.
