Heart Failure Recovery Outcomes Differ by Gender
Women face higher risks of worsening heart failure events even after their ejection fraction improves.
Updated on Oct. 23, 2026 in Heart Disease
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Should medical diagnostic thresholds for heart failure recovery be defined differently for men and women?
A large study tracking 28,292 adults with heart failure between 2013 and 2022 found that while many see an improved ejection fraction, women face higher risks of worsening health outcomes than men. These findings highlight the need for sex-specific monitoring for patients recovering from reduced heart function.
Why it matters
Understanding these gender-based differences is critical because improved ejection fraction does not necessarily mean a full return to heart health. Recognizing this gap allows clinicians to better tailor care and monitoring for women even after their heart function metrics improve.
In a retrospective cohort study of 28,292 adults with incident heart failure, 35% experienced an improved ejection fraction during the study period. Despite this recovery in heart function, women experienced higher rates of worsening heart failure events than men.
The players
Kaiser Permanente Northern California
The health system that provided the patient cohort for this retrospective analysis.
JACC: Heart Failure
A peer-reviewed medical journal that published the findings.
The details
Researchers defined heart failure with improved ejection fraction as an increase from a baseline of 40% or less to above 40%. The study found that women in the cohort were generally older at the time of their initial diagnosis and more frequently presented with stress-induced cardiomyopathy. Even when the heart's pumping efficiency improved, the study suggests that ejection fraction alone may not capture the full clinical picture of risk for female patients.
Timeline
The study identified incident heart failure cases between 2013 and 2022.
Findings were published in JACC: Heart Failure on October 15, 2026.
Health Landscape
This research complicates standard clinical expectations for patients whose heart function appears to recover based on standard ejection fraction measurements. It marks a shift toward incorporating non-ejection fraction markers to better guide management and risk assessment for female patients.
If you are managing a heart failure diagnosis, talk to your doctor about whether your treatment plan accounts for potential risks beyond just your ejection fraction number. It is worth asking your cardiology team how your specific history and symptoms influence your long-term follow-up care.
The takeaway
Even when heart function improves, women remain at a higher risk for worsening heart failure than men. Maintain regular communication with your cardiologist to track symptoms and risk markers beyond just your echocardiogram results.
Further reading
Learn more about managing your cardiovascular health in our Heart Disease section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by American College of Cardiology.
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Should medical diagnostic thresholds for heart failure recovery be defined differently for men and women?
