Geneva’s HUG launches a dedicated cardiovascular health center for women

The Geneva University Hospitals (HUG) are establishing a women’s cardiovascular health center (“Pôle de santé cardiovasculaire pour la femme), a dedicated center focused on the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of cardiovascular disease in women. The center, integrated into HUG’s existing cardiovascular unit, is led by Dr. Elena Tessitore, cardiologist and adjunct physician at HUG and Privat-docent at the University of Geneva’s Faculty of Medicine.

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in Switzerland, accounting for around 20,000 deaths annually according to the Federal Office of Public Health. Despite this, the condition is frequently diagnosed later in women than in men. At equal age, mortality from heart attacks is higher in women, who also tend to seek care later, on average 40 minutes after symptom onset, and sometimes up to 12 hours.

The disparity stems from a combination of biological and clinical factors. Women’s hearts are smaller and beat faster, cholesterol accumulates differently in their coronary arteries, and heart attack symptoms often present atypically, including nausea, sweating, and shortness of breath rather than classic chest pain. Female-specific risk factors, including gestational diabetes and pre-eclampsia, further complicate diagnosis.

The new center will pursue three objectives: identifying cardiovascular conditions specific to women, raising awareness at key hormonal life stages (contraception, pregnancy, and menopause), and promoting sex-specific screening and prevention. It will also support targeted research and multidisciplinary training in collaboration with the University of Geneva, further reinforcing Geneva’s role as a leading center for precision medicine and clinical innovation.