OBJECTIVES: This study evaluated gender differences in clinical characteristics, treatment and outcome among patients with heart failure, and to what extent these differences are due to age and differences in left ventricular (LV) function. Although gender differences are observed among heart failure patients, few studies have been adequately powered to investigate these differences. METHODS: A total of 8914 (out of 10 701) patients (47% women) from the Euro Heart Survey on Heart Failure with confirmed diagnosis of heart failure were included in the analyses. RESULTS: Women were older (74.7 vs 68.3 years, p<0.001), and less often had evidence of coronary artery disease (56% vs 66%, age-adjusted odds ratio (OR) 0.62; 95% CI 0.57 to 0.68). Women were more likely to have hypertension, diabetes, or valvular heart disease. Fewer women had an investigation of LV function (59% vs 74%, age-adjusted OR 0.67; 95% CI 0.61 to 0.74), and, among those investigated, fewer had moderate/severe left ventricular systolic dysfunction (44% vs 71%, age-adjusted OR 0.35; 95% CI 0.32 to 0.39). Drugs with a documented impact on survival, that is ACE-inhibitors and beta-blockers, were given less often to women, even in the adjusted analysis (OR 0.72; 95% CI 0.61 to 0.86 and OR 0.76; 95% CI 0.65 to 0.89, respectively). 12-week mortality was similar for men and women. CONCLUSIONS: Fewer women had an assessment of LV function, but, when investigated, women had better ventricular function. Women were less often treated with evidence-based drugs, even after adjustment for age and important clinical characteristics. Clinicians need to be aware of deficiencies in the treatment of women with heart failure and measures should be taken to rectify them.
OBJECTIVES: This study evaluated gender differences in clinical characteristics, treatment and outcome among patients with heart failure, and to what extent these differences are due to age and differences in left ventricular (LV) function. Although gender differences are observed among heart failurepatients, few studies have been adequately powered to investigate these differences. METHODS: A total of 8914 (out of 10 701) patients (47% women) from the Euro Heart Survey on Heart Failure with confirmed diagnosis of heart failure were included in the analyses. RESULTS:Women were older (74.7 vs 68.3 years, p<0.001), and less often had evidence of coronary artery disease (56% vs 66%, age-adjusted odds ratio (OR) 0.62; 95% CI 0.57 to 0.68). Women were more likely to have hypertension, diabetes, or valvular heart disease. Fewer women had an investigation of LV function (59% vs 74%, age-adjusted OR 0.67; 95% CI 0.61 to 0.74), and, among those investigated, fewer had moderate/severe left ventricular systolic dysfunction (44% vs 71%, age-adjusted OR 0.35; 95% CI 0.32 to 0.39). Drugs with a documented impact on survival, that is ACE-inhibitors and beta-blockers, were given less often to women, even in the adjusted analysis (OR 0.72; 95% CI 0.61 to 0.86 and OR 0.76; 95% CI 0.65 to 0.89, respectively). 12-week mortality was similar for men and women. CONCLUSIONS: Fewer women had an assessment of LV function, but, when investigated, women had better ventricular function. Women were less often treated with evidence-based drugs, even after adjustment for age and important clinical characteristics. Clinicians need to be aware of deficiencies in the treatment of women with heart failure and measures should be taken to rectify them.
Authors: Naomi D Herz; Joseph Engeda; Robbert Zusterzeel; William E Sanders; Kathryn M O'Callaghan; David G Strauss; Samantha B Jacobs; Kimberly A Selzman; Ileana L Piña; Daniel A Caños Journal: J Womens Health (Larchmt) Date: 2015-03-20 Impact factor: 2.681
Authors: Kathryn W Holmes; Cheryl L Maslen; Mark Kindem; Barbara L Kroner; Howard K Song; William Ravekes; H C Dietz; Jonathan W Weinsaft; Mary J Roman; Richard B Devereux; Reed E Pyeritz; Joseph Bavaria; Karianna Milewski; Dianna Milewicz; Scott A LeMaire; Tabitha Hendershot; Kim A Eagle; H Eser Tolunay; Patrice Desvigne-Nickens; Michael Silberbach Journal: Am J Med Genet A Date: 2013-02-26 Impact factor: 2.802
Authors: Ken Lee Chin; Marina Skiba; Andrew Tonkin; Christopher M Reid; Danny Liew; Henry Krum; Ingrid Hopper Journal: Heart Fail Rev Date: 2016-11 Impact factor: 4.214