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Sociocultural gender is a complex construct encompassing different aspects of individuals' life, whereas sex refers to biological factors. These terms are often misused, although they impact differently on individuals' health. Recognizing the role of sex and gender on health status is fundamental in the pursuit of a personalized medicine. Aim of the current study was to investigate the awareness in approaching clinical and research questions on the impact of sex and gender on health among European internists. Clinicians affiliated with the European Federation of Internal Medicine from 33 countries participated to the study on a voluntary basis between January 1st, 2018 and July 31st, 2019. Internists' awareness and knowledge on sex and gender issues in clinical medicine were measured by an online anonymized 7-item survey. A total of 1323 European internists responded to the survey of which 57% were women, mostly young or middle-aged (78%), and practicing in public general medicine services (74.5%). The majority (79%) recognized that sex and gender are not interchangeable terms, though a wide discrepancy exists on what clinicians think sex and gender concepts incorporate. Biological sex and sociocultural gender were recognized as determinants of health mainly in cardiovascular and autoimmune/rheumatic diseases. Up to 80% of respondents acknowledged the low participation of female individuals in trials and more than 60% the lack of sex-specific clinical guidelines. Internists also express the willingness of getting more knowledge on the impact of sex and gender in cerebrovascular/cognitive and inflammatory bowel diseases. Biological sex and sociocultural gender are factors influencing health and disease. Although awareness and knowledge remain suboptimal across European internists, most acknowledge the underrepresentation of female subjects in trials, the lack of sex-specific guidelines and the need of being more informed on sex and gender-based differences in diseases., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Recurrent miscarriage affects 1-2% of women. In more than half of all recurrent miscarriage the cause still remains uncertain. Thrombophilia has been identified in about 50% of women with recurrent miscarriage and thromboprophylaxis has been suggested as an option of treatment. A randomised double-blind (for aspirin) multicentre trial was performed among 207 women with three or more consecutive first trimester (<13 weeks) miscarriages, two or more second trimester (13-24 weeks) miscarriages or one third trimester fetal loss combined with one first trimester miscarriage. Women were analysed for thrombophilia. After complete work-up, women were randomly allocated before seven weeks' gestation to either enoxaparin 40 mg and placebo (n=68), enoxaparin 40 mg and aspirin 100 mg (n=63) or aspirin 100 mg (n=76). The primary outcome was live-birth rate. Secondary outcomes were pregnancy complications, neonatal outcome and adverse effects. The trial was ended prematurely because of slow recruitment. A live birth rate of 71% [relative risk (RR) 1.17, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.92-1.48] was found for enoxaparin and placebo and 65% [RR 1.08, 95% CI 0.83-1.39] for enoxaparin and aspirin when compared to aspirin alone (61%, reference group). In the whole study group the live birth rate was 65% (95% CI 58.66-71.74) for women with three or more miscarriages (n=204). No difference in pregnancy complications, neonatal outcome or adverse effects was observed. No significant difference in live birth rate was found with enoxaparin treatment versus aspirin or a combination of both versus aspirin in women with recurrent miscarriage.

Cardiovascular risk is poorly managed in women, especially during the menopausal transition when susceptibility to cardiovascular events increases. Clear gender differences exist in the epidemiology, symptoms, diagnosis, progression, prognosis, and management of cardiovascular risk. Key risk factors that need to be controlled in the peri-menopausal woman are hypertension, dyslipidaemia, obesity, and other components of the metabolic syndrome, with the avoidance and careful control of diabetes. Hypertension is a particularly powerful risk factor and lowering of blood pressure is pivotal. Hormone replacement therapy is acknowledged as the gold standard for the alleviation of the distressing vasomotor symptoms of the menopause, but the findings of the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) study generated concern for the detrimental effect on cardiovascular events. Thus, hormone replacement therapy cannot be recommended for the prevention of cardiovascular disease. Whether the findings of WHI in older post-menopausal women can be applied to younger peri-menopausal women is unknown. It is increasingly recognized that hormone therapy is inappropriate for older post-menopausal women no longer displaying menopausal symptoms. Both gynaecologists and cardiovascular physicians have an important role to play in identifying peri-menopausal women at risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality and should work as a team to identify and manage risk factors such as hypertension.