Holli A DeVon1, Julie Johnson Zerwic. 1. Marquette University, Milwaukee, College of Nursing, Wisconsin 53201, USA. Holli.devon@Marquette.edu
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Research has shown that there are differences between women and men in the epidemiology, presentation, and outcomes of coronary heart disease. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to determine if there were sex differences in the symptoms of unstable angina (UA) and if so, to determine if these differences remained after controlling for age, diabetes, anxiety, depression, and functional status. METHOD: This descriptive study used a nonexperimental, quantitative design. A convenience sample of 50 women and 50 men, hospitalized with UA, were recruited from an urban and a suburban medical center. Instruments included the Unstable Angina Symptoms Questionnaire (UASQ), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and the Canadian Cardiovascular Society (CCS) classification of angina. RESULTS: Multivariate analysis indicated that women experienced significantly (p <.05) more shortness of breath (74% vs. 60%), weakness (74% vs. 48%), difficulty breathing (66% vs. 38%), nausea (42% vs. 22%), and loss of appetite (40% vs. 10%) than men. After controlling for age, diabetes, anxiety, depression, and functional status, women were still more likely than men to report weakness (p =.03), difficulty breathing (p =.02), nausea (p =.03), and loss of appetite (p =.02). Chi-square analysis of symptom descriptors revealed that women disclosed more (p <.05) upper back pain (42% vs. 18%), stabbing pain (32% vs. 12%), and knifelike pain (28% vs. 12%). Women also had a significantly higher incidence of depression (22% vs. 2%, p <.01). CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest that women and men have similar symptoms during an episode of UA, however, a higher proportion of women have less typical symptoms.
BACKGROUND: Research has shown that there are differences between women and men in the epidemiology, presentation, and outcomes of coronary heart disease. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to determine if there were sex differences in the symptoms of unstable angina (UA) and if so, to determine if these differences remained after controlling for age, diabetes, anxiety, depression, and functional status. METHOD: This descriptive study used a nonexperimental, quantitative design. A convenience sample of 50 women and 50 men, hospitalized with UA, were recruited from an urban and a suburban medical center. Instruments included the Unstable Angina Symptoms Questionnaire (UASQ), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and the Canadian Cardiovascular Society (CCS) classification of angina. RESULTS: Multivariate analysis indicated that women experienced significantly (p <.05) more shortness of breath (74% vs. 60%), weakness (74% vs. 48%), difficulty breathing (66% vs. 38%), nausea (42% vs. 22%), and loss of appetite (40% vs. 10%) than men. After controlling for age, diabetes, anxiety, depression, and functional status, women were still more likely than men to report weakness (p =.03), difficulty breathing (p =.02), nausea (p =.03), and loss of appetite (p =.02). Chi-square analysis of symptom descriptors revealed that women disclosed more (p <.05) upper back pain (42% vs. 18%), stabbing pain (32% vs. 12%), and knifelike pain (28% vs. 12%). Women also had a significantly higher incidence of depression (22% vs. 2%, p <.01). CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest that women and men have similar symptoms during an episode of UA, however, a higher proportion of women have less typical symptoms.
Authors: Sahereh Mirzaei; Larisa Burke; Anne G Rosenfeld; Susan Dunn; Jennifer R Dungan; Katherine Maki; Holli A DeVon Journal: Biol Res Nurs Date: 2019-06-25 Impact factor: 2.522
Authors: Jessica K Zègre-Hemsey; Josephine Asafu-Adjei; Antonio Fernandez; Jane Brice Journal: Prehosp Emerg Care Date: 2019-04-17 Impact factor: 3.077
Authors: Elizabeth P Knight; Kimberly Shea; Anne G Rosenfeld; Sarah Schmiege; Chiu-Hsieh Hsu; Holli A DeVon Journal: Nurs Res Date: 2016 Jul-Aug Impact factor: 2.381