Pieter Vynckier1, Giulia Ferrannini2, Lars Rydén2, Piotr Jankowski3, Tine De Backer4, Sofie Gevaert4, Dirk De Bacquer1, Delphine De Smedt1. 1. Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Ghent University, Corneel Heymanslaan 10, 9000 Ghent, Belgium. 2. Cardiology Unit, Department of Medicine K2, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden. 3. Department of Cardiology, Interventional Electrocardiology and Hypertension, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Kraków, Poland. 4. Department of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
Abstract
AIMS: This study aims to provide an overview on contemporary gender differences in the risk factor control of coronary heart disease (CHD) patients. METHODS AND RESULTS: Analyses were based on the cross-sectional ESC (European Society of Cardiology) EORP (EurObservational Research Programme) EUROASPIRE V (European Survey of Cardiovascular Disease Prevention and Diabetes) survey including data on CHD patients across 27 European countries. Men and women between 18 and 80 years old, hospitalized for a first or recurrent coronary event were included in the study. Data were available for 8261 patients of which 25.8% women. Overall, women had a worse risk factor control compared with men. Whereas women were more likely to be non-smokers (79.3% vs. 87.2%; P < 0.001), they were less likely to reach recommended levels of physical activity (36.8% vs. 27.5%; P < 0.001), and they were less likely to be non-obese (65.1% vs. 54.3%; P < 0.001). There is indication that risk factors such as smoking behaviour and obesity differed depending on country income level. No gender differences could be observed in blood pressure on target (P > 0.05). Moreover, a lower proportion of women reached low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) target levels (31.4% vs. 22.1%; P < 0.001), and they were less likely to reach glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) targets if having self-reported diabetes (56.7% vs. 48.6%; P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The risk factor control of CHD women is substantial worse compared with men despite little gender differences in cardiovascular medication intake. Further actions are needed to increase the awareness of the worse risk factor control in female CHD patients. Published on behalf of the European Society of Cardiology. All rights reserved.
AIMS: This study aims to provide an overview on contemporary gender differences in the risk factor control of coronary heart disease (CHD) patients. METHODS AND RESULTS: Analyses were based on the cross-sectional ESC (European Society of Cardiology) EORP (EurObservational Research Programme) EUROASPIRE V (European Survey of Cardiovascular Disease Prevention and Diabetes) survey including data on CHD patients across 27 European countries. Men and women between 18 and 80 years old, hospitalized for a first or recurrent coronary event were included in the study. Data were available for 8261 patients of which 25.8% women. Overall, women had a worse risk factor control compared with men. Whereas women were more likely to be non-smokers (79.3% vs. 87.2%; P < 0.001), they were less likely to reach recommended levels of physical activity (36.8% vs. 27.5%; P < 0.001), and they were less likely to be non-obese (65.1% vs. 54.3%; P < 0.001). There is indication that risk factors such as smoking behaviour and obesity differed depending on country income level. No gender differences could be observed in blood pressure on target (P > 0.05). Moreover, a lower proportion of women reached low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) target levels (31.4% vs. 22.1%; P < 0.001), and they were less likely to reach glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) targets if having self-reported diabetes (56.7% vs. 48.6%; P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The risk factor control of CHD women is substantial worse compared with men despite little gender differences in cardiovascular medication intake. Further actions are needed to increase the awareness of the worse risk factor control in female CHD patients. Published on behalf of the European Society of Cardiology. All rights reserved.