Isabela Marcal
@isabelarmarcal.bsky.social
PhD trainee | Exercise Physiology & Cardiovascular Health Lab | University of Ottawa Heart Institute 🇨🇦
8/8 | ✅ Final takeaway
Despite years of recommendations, women remain underrepresented in Canadian CVD exercise trials (34%).
We must move beyond awareness to action! 🫀🏃♀️🇨🇦🌎
🔗 www.cjcopen.ca/article/S258...
Despite years of recommendations, women remain underrepresented in Canadian CVD exercise trials (34%).
We must move beyond awareness to action! 🫀🏃♀️🇨🇦🌎
🔗 www.cjcopen.ca/article/S258...
April 19, 2025 at 3:43 PM
8/8 | ✅ Final takeaway
Despite years of recommendations, women remain underrepresented in Canadian CVD exercise trials (34%).
We must move beyond awareness to action! 🫀🏃♀️🇨🇦🌎
🔗 www.cjcopen.ca/article/S258...
Despite years of recommendations, women remain underrepresented in Canadian CVD exercise trials (34%).
We must move beyond awareness to action! 🫀🏃♀️🇨🇦🌎
🔗 www.cjcopen.ca/article/S258...
7/8 | 🧑🤝🧑 Who’s doing the research?
From surveyed authors (33% response rate):
•75% of first authors = women
•60% of senior authors = men
⚠️ Male authorship has been linked to lower female trial enrollment
From surveyed authors (33% response rate):
•75% of first authors = women
•60% of senior authors = men
⚠️ Male authorship has been linked to lower female trial enrollment
April 19, 2025 at 3:43 PM
7/8 | 🧑🤝🧑 Who’s doing the research?
From surveyed authors (33% response rate):
•75% of first authors = women
•60% of senior authors = men
⚠️ Male authorship has been linked to lower female trial enrollment
From surveyed authors (33% response rate):
•75% of first authors = women
•60% of senior authors = men
⚠️ Male authorship has been linked to lower female trial enrollment
6/8 | 💡 What needs to change?
We call for:
•Education for referral sources
•Tailored, inclusive exercise programs
•Flexible formats (home-based)
•Safe and welcoming environments
We call for:
•Education for referral sources
•Tailored, inclusive exercise programs
•Flexible formats (home-based)
•Safe and welcoming environments
April 19, 2025 at 3:43 PM
6/8 | 💡 What needs to change?
We call for:
•Education for referral sources
•Tailored, inclusive exercise programs
•Flexible formats (home-based)
•Safe and welcoming environments
We call for:
•Education for referral sources
•Tailored, inclusive exercise programs
•Flexible formats (home-based)
•Safe and welcoming environments
5/8 | 🚧 Barriers for women in exercise-based cardiac rehab
Still under-addressed:
•Lack of awareness
•Travel/family constraints
•Perception of exercise as tiring/painful
⚠️ No study reported sex-specific recruitment strategies
Still under-addressed:
•Lack of awareness
•Travel/family constraints
•Perception of exercise as tiring/painful
⚠️ No study reported sex-specific recruitment strategies
April 19, 2025 at 3:43 PM
5/8 | 🚧 Barriers for women in exercise-based cardiac rehab
Still under-addressed:
•Lack of awareness
•Travel/family constraints
•Perception of exercise as tiring/painful
⚠️ No study reported sex-specific recruitment strategies
Still under-addressed:
•Lack of awareness
•Travel/family constraints
•Perception of exercise as tiring/painful
⚠️ No study reported sex-specific recruitment strategies
4/8 | 📝 Reporting gaps
• <40% of studies reported sex-disaggregated data across study phases
•33% included sex-based discussions
•13% reported gender-related factors
• <40% of studies reported sex-disaggregated data across study phases
•33% included sex-based discussions
•13% reported gender-related factors
April 19, 2025 at 3:43 PM
4/8 | 📝 Reporting gaps
• <40% of studies reported sex-disaggregated data across study phases
•33% included sex-based discussions
•13% reported gender-related factors
• <40% of studies reported sex-disaggregated data across study phases
•33% included sex-based discussions
•13% reported gender-related factors
3/8 | 🔍 Key finding: The sex gap persists
Among 2,339 participants:
•34% were women
•66% were men
📉 No improvement in female inclusion over the past decade (range: 11–56%)
Among 2,339 participants:
•34% were women
•66% were men
📉 No improvement in female inclusion over the past decade (range: 11–56%)
April 19, 2025 at 3:43 PM
3/8 | 🔍 Key finding: The sex gap persists
Among 2,339 participants:
•34% were women
•66% were men
📉 No improvement in female inclusion over the past decade (range: 11–56%)
Among 2,339 participants:
•34% were women
•66% were men
📉 No improvement in female inclusion over the past decade (range: 11–56%)
2/8 | ⁉️ What was studied?
We conducted a rapid review of Canadian RCTs (2013–2023) on exercise interventions (≥4 weeks) in adults with CVD.
From 12,290 studies, 30 trials were included. We examined:
•Female vs. male participant %
•Sex-disaggregated reporting
•Sex/gender of authors
We conducted a rapid review of Canadian RCTs (2013–2023) on exercise interventions (≥4 weeks) in adults with CVD.
From 12,290 studies, 30 trials were included. We examined:
•Female vs. male participant %
•Sex-disaggregated reporting
•Sex/gender of authors
April 19, 2025 at 3:43 PM
2/8 | ⁉️ What was studied?
We conducted a rapid review of Canadian RCTs (2013–2023) on exercise interventions (≥4 weeks) in adults with CVD.
From 12,290 studies, 30 trials were included. We examined:
•Female vs. male participant %
•Sex-disaggregated reporting
•Sex/gender of authors
We conducted a rapid review of Canadian RCTs (2013–2023) on exercise interventions (≥4 weeks) in adults with CVD.
From 12,290 studies, 30 trials were included. We examined:
•Female vs. male participant %
•Sex-disaggregated reporting
•Sex/gender of authors