The Saga of Toil and Consistency

Science has unraveled that women with heart disease present differently, present late, have little access to treatment, respond poorly, and receive minimal rehabilitation. Moreover, the basic biological, physiological, and reproductive issues make women a different entity deserving special care and management. This stands true all the more in nations such as India where the typical female advantage in life expectancy is not seen (72.7 in women vs. 69.4 in men). With improving maternal mortality ratio (97 in year 2018–20 vs. 254 in 2004–06),^[1,2] India now stands in the zone of obstetric transition with mortality and morbidity secondary to cardiovascular ailments superseding not just in pregnancy but through variant stages of a woman’s life.

IJCDW, under able guidance of its Editor in Chief, Professor Jyotsna Maddury, has surged ahead in its voyage to address the cause of cardiovascular diseases in women who form the fundamental unit of a healthy society. Over the several years of her toil, Prof. Jyotsana has very proficiently amalgamated the women cardiologists across the country into one strong organization Women in Cardiology and Related Sciences (WINCARS). Besides spreading the cardiac health awareness in women among the cardiologists and physicians through the modem of IJCDW,^[3] the organization soars ahead in collecting relevant data in several fields of cardiology in which women behave differently. The original research published in IJCDW in arenas of coronary artery disease,^[4,5] heart failure,^[6-10] hypertension,^[11] diabetes,^[12-14] dyslipidemia, structural and coronary interventions,^[15] pulmonary artery hypertension, cardiovascular ailments in pregnancy, menopausal transition, and so on in women highlight the need to approach and manage them differently.

The data on women are especially lacking given the underrepresentation of women in research trials and IJCDW aims to narrow this gap through research directed specifically to women cardiac diseases and their management.

As Prof Jyotsana hands over the baton to the next Editor in-charge, the road ahead will definitely be full of challenges and opportunities. Beside fortifying the amazing feat IJCDW has already achieved by its indexing in academic databases as EMBASE; the sky’s the limit. By fostering academic exchange in the scientific community, not just in the country but across the borders as well, IJCDW looks ahead to expand coverage of its publications in main databases as PUBMED and SCOPUS. The foundation of IJCDW is rooted in its mission and value of timeliness, efficiency, simplicity, sustainability, and flexibility. Upholding these values and maintaining the high quality scientific content by efficient prompt peer review and editorial proofing would be a prime responsibility. Besides original research articles, relevant reviews, intervention rounds, images, case reports, and student’s corner form the crux of the journal. Inputs from teachers in cardiology and suggestions from all corners to improvise and uplift would always be welcome as we work hand in hand to serve this pillar of society which has never prioritized her health.

In consortium with its prime motive of approaching cardiovascular ailments in women, IJCDW encourages research in this field especially by the lady cardiologists. Gender bias in the field of cardiology has already started dwindling as evident in statistical compilation of gender related indicators of India 2022 by the Ministry of Statistics and Program implementation, Government of India. Of the 162 enrollments in the field of Cardiology, 102 were women.^[2] The PSS, Prajwalika Scholarship Program (PSS) by the WINCARS, is funded with the initiative aiming to encourage and support the young medical fraternity for short-term research in the field of cardiovascular diseases in women. Women Cardiac Care (WCC), the annual conference by the WINCARS association, witnesses the participation of women cardiologists all across the country and globe. Besides delivering excellent scientific deliberations, women prove their steel by performing complex interventional coronary and structural cardiac interventions. WINCARS NEWS, another upcoming initiative by the WINCARS, keeps the scientific community abreast with the latest trials and research in the field of cardiovascular ailments in women. Monthly meetings on relevant topics, case discussions, and master classes by the eminent teachers in the field of Cardiology by WINCARS maintain the continuum of ever evolving and latest in cardiology.

The vision of Professor Jyotsna Maddury, her toil, sweat, and blood is now the responsibility of WINCARS as it leaps further into the magnanimous world of evidence based science. IJCDW fortifies our dreams and helps us discover newer arenas and at the same time serve the purpose of WCC which deserves its unique stature and care.

Growth is never by mere chance; it is the result of forces working together.

Coming together is a beginning;

Keeping together is progress;

Working together is a success.

Let’s work together toward our successful endeavors.