New Heart Attack Definition Aims to Improve Early Diagnosis in Women

Four major cardiology associations have agreed on a new, simplified definition of heart attacks that includes sex-specific diagnostic thresholds, potentially enabling more women to receive earlier and more accurate diagnoses. The change addresses longstanding disparities in how female patients are identified and treated. The new system categorizes heart attacks into primary, secondary, and procedure-related types, while also lowering the troponin protein threshold used to diagnose women. This helps catch cases previously missed, including spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD), which affects women in about 90% of cases and was often misclassified. The updated framework follows a 2025 debate highlighting the vagueness of prior definitions and confusing jargon. Doctors emphasize that prompt evaluation remains critical, as women often present with atypical symptoms like nausea or shortness of breath rather than classic chest pain.