Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the leading cause of death among women globally, yet sex-specific risks, symptoms, and management strategies continue to be underrepresented in both clinical care and digital health tools. This study addresses these gaps by exploring how a mobile health (mHealth) application can be designed to meet the unique needs of women with CVD, incorporating the perspectives of both patients and healthcare professionals (HCPs). Using a qualitative, user-centered design approach, the research is structured around the Double Diamond framework and guided by human-centered design principles.

Semi-structured interviews with female CVD patients and cardiologists were conducted to understand key challenges, preferences, and unmet needs in current care and digital solutions. The findings revealed critical gaps in sex-specific education, personalized tracking, and clinical integration. Features were identified, coded, and prioritized based on frequency and relevance, with results visualized using sunburst diagrams. These visual tools allowed for the transparent categorization of patient and HCP input into useful features, added value, and low-priority features.

The resulting high-fidelity prototype was developed using Figma and centers around five main screens, Home, Health, Track, Support, and Reminders, eflecting both user needs and clinical feasibility. While primarily focused on the patient experience, the app design also integrates features that indirectly support HCP workflows, such as structured data export. Usability feedback from UX experts was incorporated to refine the prototype, with future evaluations planned to include real patient testing. This thesis provides actionable recommendations for developers and stakeholders involved in women’s cardiovascular health, highlighting the importance of sex-specific personalization, behavioral engagement strategies, accessible educationonal content, and user-friendly interfaces. Ultimately, the study contributes to the ongoing discourse on equitable digital health solutions by demonstrating how inclusive design can support more effective CVD management for women.