Bias and Biology Northern Ireland is a report on the systemic gender inequalities faced by women in the awareness, diagnosis and treatment of heart attacks. It includes policy recommendations to close the heart attack gender gap, improving outcomes and quality of life for women with heart disease in Northern Ireland
The report draws on local, national and international research. It also includes a Northern Ireland-wide survey commissioned by British Heart Foundation Northern Ireland (BHF NI) and the experiences of NI women. It aims to highlight gender inequalities in the cardiac care pathway.
Download the report or continue reading for a summary and key points from the research.
Read the Bias and Biology NI report
Prevalence of heart disease in Northern Ireland
In 2022 in Northern Ireland, 1,977 women died from heart and circulatory diseases, with 588 deaths resulting from coronary heart disease. Of those 588 deaths, 334 were directly attributed to heart attack.
There are currently an estimated 26,000 women in Northern Ireland living with coronary heart disease. It’s one of the leading causes of death for women, killing twice as many women each year as breast cancer.
Under awareness of women’s risk of heart disease
A 2024 survey commissioned by BHF NI found nearly 6 in 10 people are not aware heart disease is one of the leading causes of death for women in Northern Ireland. The same survey found that socioeconomic inequalities were present in the awareness of heart disease as a leading cause of death for women.
Awareness of heart disease as a leading cause of death for women in Northern Ireland by socioeconomic status
The graph shows that 49% of those of a higher socioeconomic status identified heart disease as the leading cause of death for women. This is compared to only 35% of respondents from a lower socioeconomic status who identified heart disease as the leading cause of death for women.
This highlights the need for awareness-raising approaches that cover gender, social and economic deprivation.
Inequalities in heart disease care
Women with heart disease are disadvantaged at each stage of their patient journey.
They are:
- not adequately equipped with clear, accessible information on symptoms
- more likely than men to receive a delayed diagnosis or a misdiagnosis following a heart attack
- are less likely than men to receive timely, optimal treatment.
Such gender inequalities are further deepened by socioeconomic deprivation.
Watch the video to discover the personal journeys of 3 women as they share their experiences with heart disease.
Call to act
Northern Ireland is currently the only part of the UK and Ireland without a dedicated plan to address the health and wellbeing of women and girls.
UK, Scottish, Welsh and Irish governments have each committed to a women’s health action plan with clear measures to improve women’s heart health. The women of Northern Ireland must not be left behind.
We are calling on the Northern Ireland Executive to develop a Women’s Health Action Plan which commits to closing the heart attack gender gap and tackling inequalities across the cardiac care pathway. The plan must address:
- awareness
- diagnosis
- treatment.