Best Practices for Designing Informative Trials Including Women

Purpose of Review: Despite mandates from funding agencies and professional societies to broaden inclusivity in medical research, women remain underrepresented in cardiovascular clinical trials. This lack of representation limits the generalizability of the findings and results in uncertainty about the safety and efficacy of many cardiovascular therapies in female patients. Recent Findings: Several barriers impact women’s participation in clinical trials, including enrollment criteria, common misconceptions, access to tertiary care, and women representation in clinical trial leadership. Summary: This short review discusses these barriers and suggests potential solutions to increase women’s participation in clinical trials and improve their cardiovascular health.