Sex Differences in the Management and 5-Year Outcome of Young Patients (<55 Years) with Acute Coronary Syndromes

Factors of Hospital Mortality in Men and Women with ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction - An Observational, Retrospective, Single Centre Study

Purpose

There are well-known gender differences in mortality of patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Our purpose was to assess factors of hospital mortality separately for men and women with STEMI, which are less well known.

Patients and Methods

In 2018-2019, 485 men and 214 women with STEMI underwent treatment with primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). We retrospectively compared baseline characteristics, treatments and hospital complications between men and women, as well as between nonsurviving and surviving men and women with STEMI.

Results

Primary PCI was performed in 94% of men and 91.1% of women with STEMI, respectively. The in-hospital mortality was significantly higher in women than in men (14% vs 8%, p=0.019). Hospital mortality in both genders was associated significantly to older age, heart failure, prior resuscitation, acute kidney injury, to less likely performed and less successful primary PCI and additionally in men to hospital infection and in women to bleeding. In men and women ≥65 years, mortality was similar (13.3% vs 17.8%, p = 0.293).

Conclusion

Factors of hospital mortality were similar in men and women with STEMI, except bleeding was more likely observed in nonsurviving women and infection in nonsurviving men.

Percutaneous Coronary Interventions in Women

PURPOSEOF REVIEW

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality among women globally. Numerous studies show ongoing disparities in diagnosis, management, and outcomes of ischemic heart disease in women compared to men. We aim to review the factors contributing to sex-based differential outcomes of percutaneous coronary interventions in women.

RECENT FINDINGS

Hormonal influence on coronary arteries and progression of atherosclerosis in women results in distinct coronary plaque characteristics and unique pathological process such as spontaneous coronary artery dissection and myocardial infarction with non-obstructive coronary arteries. During the presentation of acute coronary syndromes, women are older and have higher burden of comorbidities, with higher short- and long-term mortality. Awareness of differences in vascular biology and unique risk factors for cardiovascular disease in women is essential for sustained improvement in cardiovascular mortality. Better representation of women in trials is crucial to address the gaps in knowledge and allow for individualized treatment approaches in women.

Sex differences in the management of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease

Disparities between women and men persist in the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). Despite growing attention to sex-based differences in cardiovascular care, there are continued disparities in short- and long-term outcomes. Such disparities highlight the need to identify pathophysiologic differences in treatment patterns for stable ischemic heart disease, non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTE-ACS), ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), and myocardial infarction with non-obstructive coronary arteries (MINOCA). The role of age as an effect modifier should also be considered given that young women diagnosed with ACS continue to experience increased rates of in-hospital mortality and major adverse cardiovascular events. Both patient-directed and systems-based approaches remain integral to improve outcomes in cardiovascular care. While inadequate representation of women in clinical trials remains a barrier to the implementation of evidence-based therapies, a growing body of data has established the efficacy and safety of medications in women across acute coronary syndromes. This review seeks to feature existing data on the differential treatment guidelines, care implementation, and cardiovascular outcomes between women and men, highlighting next directions for clinical investigation.

Risk Factors for Premature Coronary Heart Disease in Women Compared to Men: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background: We aimed to systematically examine literature on the prevalence of known modifiable and nonmodifiable risk factors for premature coronary heart disease (PCHD) in women compared with men. Materials and Methods: PubMed, CINAHL, Embase, and Web of Science databases were searched. Review protocol is registered in PROSPERO (CRD42020173216). Quality was assessed using the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute tool. Review Manager 5.3 was used for meta-analysis. Effect sizes were expressed as odds ratio (OR) and mean differences/standardized mean differences (SMD) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for categorical and continuous variables. Results: In this PCHD cohort (age <65 years), the mean age of presentation in women was 3 years older than men. Women had higher total cholesterol (SMD 0.11; 95% CI 0.00 to 0.23) and higher high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (SMD 0.49; 95% CI 0.29 to 0.69). Women were more likely to have hypertension (OR 1.51, 95% CI 1.42 to 1.60), diabetes mellitus (OR 1.78, 95% CI 1.55 to 2.04), obesity (OR 1.33, 95% CI 1.24 to 1.42), metabolic syndrome (OR 3.73, 95% CI 1.60 to 8.69), stroke (OR 1.63, 95% CI 1.51 to 1.77), peripheral vascular disorder (OR 1.67, 95% CI 1.43 to 1.96), and depression (OR 2.29, 95% CI 1.96 to 2.67). Women were less likely to be smokers (OR 0.60, 95% CI 0.55 to 0.66), have reported alcohol intake (OR 0.36, 95% CI 0.33 to 0.40), and reported use of illicit drug (OR 0.32, 95% CI 0.16 to 0.62). Conclusions: Risk factor profile in PCHD has a clear sex difference that supports early, aggressive, holistic, but sex-specific, approach to prevention.

A bibliometric analysis of acute myocardial infarction in women from 2000 to 2022

Background

Plenty of publications had been written in the last several decades on acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in women. However, there are few bibliometric analyses in such field. In order to solve this problem, we attempted to examine the knowledge structure and development of research about AMI in women based on analysis of related publications.

Method

The Web of Science Core Collection was used to extract all publications regarding AMI in women, ranging from January 2000 to August 2022. Bibliometric analysis was performed using VOSviewer, Cite Space, and an online bibliometric analysis platform.

Results

A total of 14,853 publications related to AMI in women were identified from 2000 to 2022. Over the past 20 years, the United States had published the most articles in international research and participated in international cooperation the most frequently. The primary research institutions were Harvard University and University of Toronto. Circulation was the most cited journal and had an incontrovertible academic impact. 67,848 authors were identified, among which Harlan M Krumholz had the most significant number of articles and Thygesen K was co-cited most often. And the most common keywords included risk factors, disease, prognosis, mortality, criteria and algorithm.

Conclusion

The research hotspots and trends of AMI in women were identified and explored using bibliometric and visual methods. Researches about AMI in women are flourishing. Criteria and algorithms might be the focus of research in the near future, which deserved great attentions.

Very long-term outcomes after acute myocardial infarction in young men and women: Insights from the FAST-MI program

AIMS

Conflicting data exists about long-term outcomes in young women and men experiencing acute myocardial infarction (AMI).

METHODS

The FAST-MI program consists of three nationwide French surveys carried out 5years apart from 2005 to 2015, including consecutive patients with AMI over a 1-month period with up to 10-year follow-up. The present analysis focused on adults≤50 yo according to their gender.

RESULTS

Women accounted for 17.5% (335) of the 1912 patients under 50 yo and had a similar age as men (43.9±5.1 vs. 43.9±5.5years, P=0.92). They received less percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) than men (85.9% vs. 91.3%, P=0.005), even in ST-elevation myocardial infarction (83.6% vs. 93.5%, P<0.001). Recommended secondary prevention medications were less frequently prescribed at discharge in women (40.6% vs. 52.8%, P<0.001), a trend that persisted in 2015 (59.1% vs. 72.8% in 2015, P<0.001). Still, ten-year survival was similar in men (90.5%) and women (92.3%) (crude HR: 0.86 [95% CI: 0.55-1.35], P=0.52, adjusted HR: 0.63 [95% CI: 0.38-1.07], P=0.09); similar results were found for ten-year survival among hospital survivors (91.2% in men vs. 93.7% in women, adjusted HR: 0.87 [95% CI: 0.45-1.66], P=0.66). Of the 1684 patients alive at hospital discharge with morbidity follow-up≥6months available, death, AMI or stroke at 8years occurred in 12.9% men and 11.2% in women (adjusted HR: 0.90 [95% CI: 0.60-1.33], P=0.59).

CONCLUSIONS

Young women with AMI undergo less cardiac interventions and are less often prescribed secondary prevention treatment than men, even when significant coronary artery disease is present, but keep a similar long-term prognosis after AMI. Optimal management of these young patients, regardless of gender, is necessary to ensure best outcomes after this major cardiovascular event.

Disparities in the Prescription of Statins in the Primary Care Setting: A Retrospective Observational Study

OBJECTIVE

Despite the high disease burden of atherosclerosis, evidence exists for the disparity in the prescription of guideline-indicated medications between genders, racial groups, socioeconomic groups, and ages. We aim to perform a retrospective study looking at the disparity in statin prescription for primary and secondary prevention in these groups.

METHODS

Data were collected from a single center and included patients with an LDL level> 190 mg/dL, diagnosis of diabetes mellitus with LDL level >70 mg/dL, and diagnosis of cardiovascular disease regardless of LDL level. Patients older than 75 or younger than 21 were excluded from the study. Complex samples multivariable logistic and linear regression models were used to calculate the adjusted odds ratio and 95% confidence interval.

RESULTS

The total study population was n=56,995. Of those, 57.89% (n=32,992) were female. Only 59.56 % of these patients for whom statin therapy was indicated received it. Most patients were White (53.21%) followed by African Americans (35.98%), Asians (2.43%), American Indian/Native Alaskans (0.40%), and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander (0.18%). There is a clear disparity in statin prescription favoring males, the elderly, and people of white ethnicity. Interestingly, Asians were more likely to be prescribed statins as opposed to whites. Self-pay patients were more likely to receive statins than patients on Medicare.

CONCLUSION

Despite being indicated, Statins are underprescribed. Disparities based on race, gender, and insurance type mirror previous trends in the literature. Some results have shown a reversal in trends such as the higher prescription for Asian-Americans. Multiple patient-specific, provider-related, institutional factors might explain these disparities and must be investigated.

ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction: Sex Differences in Incidence, Etiology, Treatment, and Outcomes

PURPOSE

Although there have been marked improvements in the standard of care for treatment of ST-elevation myocardial infarction, women, especially younger women, continue to have significantly worse outcomes than men.

RECENT FINDINGS

This review highlights the current sex differences in presentation, etiology, treatment, and outcomes among these patients in order to make providers aware of the heterogeneous entities that cause ST-elevation myocardial infarction particularly in women and of disparities in treatment that lead to poorer outcomes in women. Furthermore, it emphasizes evidence-based strategies including standardized protocols for early revascularization, mechanical circulatory support, and access methodology that can reduce sex-based disparities in treatments and outcomes.

Update on Management of Cardiovascular Diseases in Women

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) have a lower prevalence in women than men; although, a higher mortality rate and a poorer prognosis are more common in women. However, there is a misperception of CVD female risk since women have commonly been considered more protected so that the real threat is vastly underestimated. Consequently, female patients are more likely to be treated less aggressively, and a lower rate of diagnostic and interventional procedures is performed in women than in men. In addition, there are substantial sex differences in CVD, so different strategies are needed. This review aims to evaluate the main gender-specific approaches in CVD.

Do Patients Seek Women-Centered Cardiac Care? Patient Experience of an All-Female Multidisciplinary Heart Center for Women

PURPOSE

Cardiovascular disease in women is frequently under-diagnosed and under-treated. Numerous heart centers for women have opened throughout the world to address these disparities; however, there is a paucity of data regarding participants' perspectives. The current study assesses motivation to participate and perceived benefits in attending a heart center for women (HCW) in Jerusalem, Israel.

METHODS

This study utilized qualitative methods to assess patients' motivation and perceived benefits to attending a women's heart center, particularly as they relate to gender medicine and single-sex staffing. A random sample of 42 clinic patients were asked to participate in interviews. Inclusionary criteria consisted of previous cardiovascular event, active cardiac symptom or three or more cardiovascular disease risk factors. Exclusionary criteria consisted of pregnancy, type 1 diabetes requiring insulin, psychiatric diagnosis that precluded participation, dementia, or other multidisciplinary clinic participation. Interviews were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim. Qualitative data analysis followed Braun and Clarke's methodology of thematic analysis.

RESULTS

The single-sex and gender medicine aspects did not motivate women to attend the HCW, although some participants perceived this as beneficial in retrospect. Women reported that the clinic visit enhanced their knowledge and awareness of issues related to heart disease in women as well as personal health benefits. They reported benefitting from the holistic approach, consideration of their lifestyle, the staff's expression of concern, personalized attention, common language, and feeling understood.

CONCLUSION

This study describes the patient experience in an all-female HCW, highlighting their motivation for attendance and perceived benefits. While they did not actively seek women-centered care, women reported educational and care provision benefits to their attendance. The care attributes that women identified as beneficial typify the person-centered approach to care. These findings may inform both the design and evaluation of medical care facilities that aim to address the sex and gender disparities in cardiology as well as other medical specialties.

Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting Following Acute Coronary Syndrome: Impact of Gender

The impact of gender on clinical outcomes after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) has generated conflicting results. We investigated the impact of gender, on 30 day mortality, complications and late survival in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) undergoing CABG. The study included 1308 patients enrolled from the biennial Acute Coronary Syndrome Israeli Survey between 2000 and 2016, who were hospitalized for ACS and underwent CABG. Of them, 1045 (80%) were men and 263 (20%) women. While women were older and had more hypertension and hyperlipidemia, they demonstrated less diabetes mellitus, previous ischemic heart disease, smoking, and fewer implicated coronary arteries. Women presented with more atypical symptoms as compared to men (26.3% vs 19.4%, p = 0.017). Overall multivariable-adjusted 30 day mortality was higher in women than in men (OR 2.47 95% CI 1.19-5.1, p = 0.015). Among patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) or non-STEMI, women had a higher 10 year mortality rate than men (42.5% vs 19.2%, log-rank p < 0.001 and 31.5% vs 20.7%, log-rank, p = 0.012). However, in patients with unstable angina pectoris on admission, these differences were not seen (16.9% vs 13.4%, log-rank p = 0.540). Multivariable analysis demonstrated that female gender was a significant predictor for 10 year mortality (HR 1.39, 95% CI 1.02-1.9, p = 0.038). In a real-life setting, women constitute an independent predictor for short- and long-term mortality following ACS treated by CABG surgery. The reasons for a higher mortality in women should be further investigated as well as specific and/or more intensive therapies after CABG in this high-risk group of patients.

Meta-Analysis of Gender Disparities in In-hospital Care and Outcomes in Patients with ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction

Gender disparities in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) outcomes continue to be reported worldwide; however, the magnitude of this gap remains unknown. To evaluate gender-based discrepancies in clinical outcomes and identify the primary driving factors a global meta-analysis was performed. Studies were selected if they included all comers with STEMI, reported gender specific patient characteristics, treatments, and outcomes, according to the registered PROSPERO protocol: CRD42020161469. A total of 56 studies (705,098 patients, 31% females) were included. Females were older, had more comorbidities and received less antiplatelet therapy and primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Females experienced significantly longer delays to first medical contact (mean difference 42.5 min) and door-to-balloon time (mean difference 4.9 min). In-hospital, females had increased rates of mortality (odds ratio [OR] 1.91, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.84 to 1.99, p <0.00001), repeat myocardial infarction (MI) (OR 1.25, 95% CI 1.00 to 1.56, p=0.05), stroke (OR 1.67, 95% CI 1.27 to 2.20, p <0.001), and major bleeding (OR 1.82, 95% CI 1.56 to 2.12, p <0.00001) compared with males. Older age at presentation was the primary driver of excess mortality in females, although other factors including lower rates of primary PCI and aspirin usage, and longer door-to-balloon times contributed. In contrast, excess rates of repeat MI and stroke in females appeared to be driven, at least in part, by lower use of primary PCI and P2Y12 inhibitors, respectively. In conclusion, despite improvements in STEMI care, women continue to have in-hospital rates of mortality, repeat MI, stroke, and major bleeding up to 2-fold higher than men. Gender disparities in in-hospital outcomes can largely be explained by age differences at presentation but comorbidities, delays to care and suboptimal treatment experienced by women may contribute to the gender gap.

Sex and gender in cardiovascular medicine: presentation and outcomes of acute coronary syndrome

Although health disparities in women presenting with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) have received growing attention in recent years, clinical outcomes from ACS are still worse for women than for men. Women continue to experience higher patient and system delays and receive less aggressive invasive treatment and pharmacotherapies. Gender- and sex-specific variables that contribute to ACS vulnerability remain largely unknown. Notwithstanding the sex differences in baseline coronary anatomy and function, women and men are treated the same based on guidelines that were established from experimental and clinical trial data over-representing the male population. Importantly, younger women have a particularly unfavourable prognosis and a plethora of unanswered questions remains in this younger population. The present review summarizes contemporary evidence for gender and sex differences in vascular biology, clinical presentation, and outcomes of ACS. We further discuss potential mechanisms and non-traditional risk conditions modulating the course of disease in women and men, such as unrecognized psychosocial factors, sex-specific vascular and neural stress responses, and the potential impact of epigenetic modifications.

Gender differences in the provision of intensive care: a Bayesian approach

Purpose

It is currently unclear whether management and outcomes of critically ill patients differ between men and women. We sought to assess the influence of age, sex and diagnoses on the probability of intensive care provision in critically ill cardio- and neurovascular patients in a large nationwide cohort in Switzerland.

Methods

Retrospective analysis of 450,948 adult patients with neuro- and cardiovascular disease admitted to all hospitals in Switzerland between 01/2012 and 12/2016 using Bayesian modeling.

Results

For all diagnoses and populations, median ages at admission were consistently higher for women than for men [75 (64;82) years in women vs. 68 (58;77) years in men, p < 0.001]. Overall, women had a lower likelihood to be admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU) than men, despite being more severely ill [odds ratio (OR) 0.78 (0.76–0.79)]. ICU admission probability was lowest in women aged > 65 years (OR women:men 0.94 (0.89–0.99), p < 0.001). Women < 45 years had a similar ICU admission probability as men in the same age category [OR women:men 1.03 (0.94–1.13)], in spite of more severe illness. The odds to die were significantly higher in women than in men per unit increase in Simplified Acute Physiology Score (SAPS) II (OR 1.008 [1.004–1.012]).

Conclusion

In the care of the critically ill, our study suggests that women are less likely to receive ICU treatment regardless of disease severity. Underuse of ICU care was most prominent in younger women < 45 years. Although our study has several limitations that are imposed by the limited data available from the registries, our findings suggest that current ICU triage algorithms could benefit from careful reassessment. Further, and ideally prospective, studies are needed to confirm our findings.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00134-021-06393-3.

Maternally inherited hypercholesterolemia does not modify the cardiovascular phenotype in familial hypercholesterolemia

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is a codominant autosomal disease characterized by a high risk of cardiovascular disease when not in lipid-lowering treatment. However, there is a large variability in the clinical presentation in heterozygous subjects (HeFH). Maternal hypercholesterolemia has been proposed as a cardiometabolic risk factor later in life. Whether this phenotype variability depends on the mother or father origin of hypercholesterolemia is unknown. The objective of this study was to analyze potential differences in anthropometry, superficial lipid deposits, comorbidities, and lipid concentrations depending on the parental origin of hypercholesterolemia within a large group of HeFH.

METHODS

This is a cross-sectional observational, multicenter, nation-wide study in Spain. We recruited adults with HeFH to study clinical differences according to the parental origin. Data on HeFH patients were obtained from the Dyslipidemia Registry of the Spanish Atherosclerosis Society.

RESULTS

HeFH patients were grouped in 1231 HeFH-mother-offspring aged 45.7 (16.3) years and 1174 HeFH-father-offspring aged 44.8 (16.7) years. We did not find any difference in lipid parameters (total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDLc, HDLc, and Lp(a)), nor in the comorbidities studied (cardiovascular disease prevalence, age of onset of cardiovascular disease, obesity, diabetes, and hypertension) between groups. Lipid-lowering treatment did not differ between groups. The prevalence of comorbidities did not show differences when they were studied by age groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Our research with a large group of subjects with HeFH shows that a potential maternal effect is not relevant in FH. However, due to the size of our sample, potential differences between genders cannot be completely ruled out. This implies that severe maternal hypercholesterolemia during pregnancy is not associated with additional risk in the FH affected offspring.

Higher Mortality in Women after Coronary Artery Bypass: Meta-analysis & Bias Analysis of Confounding

BACKGROUND

Some studies suggest the observed higher mortality in women than men after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is due to confounding. Our meta-analysis aimed to 1) summarize the effect of sex on mortality following CABG and 2) identify whether unmeasured confounding likely explains the apparent higher mortality in women.

METHODS

MEDLINE, Embase, and CENTRAL databases were searched for studies examining sex and 30-day mortality following CABG. We used random-effects meta-analysis to estimate the summary odds ratio (OR) of mortality in women versus men using 1) unadjusted study results and 2) adjusted study results. Available confounders data from included studies was identified. Using the OR of measured confounders and the risk of death to inform unmeasured confounding effects, we performed bias analysis simulation to correct potential unmeasured confounding in our summary OR.

RESULTS

From 7138 retrieved studies, 112 were included (N=5,008,262 patients), 25 studies reported adjusted OR (N=770,450 patients). The overall 30-day mortality was 4.9% in women vs. 3.3% in men. The unadjusted summary OR (1.81, 95% CI 1.72 to 1.91) and adjusted summary OR (1.40, 95% CI 1.35 to 1.45) demonstrated that women had an increased risk of 30-day mortality compared to men. Simulations correcting for unmeasured confounding that mostly ranged from 1.05 to 1.80, supporting a higher risk of death in women after CABG.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings of this review suggest confounding is unlikely to account for the increased risk of mortality in women after CABG and that biological factors have a casual effect.

Gender Differences in Residual Risk Factors for Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events Following ACS and How to Bridge the Gap

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The review aims to describe the differences between men and women in those factors that can influence a worse prognosis in women after an acute cardiovascular event.

RECENT FINDINGS

Women adequately treated with current evidence-based medications for acute myocardial infarction and for conventional cardiovascular risk factors, such as hypertension, diabetes, smoking, and dyslipidemia, still have an extra risk of death compared with men. Additional factors that increase the risk of poor prognosis for the index event have been identified. The residual risk can be due to factors affecting the prognosis of the women from outside (they are external to the patient's body) and also to factors that, on the contrary, belong to the female body (female being/female sex). The review will give an update on those residual risk factors, including young age, vulnerability for de novo heart failure, time from symptom onset to treatment, heath care delivered during the weekend, and depression, which generally negatively influence the outcome of women with an acute myocardial infarction.

Recent trends in acute myocardial infarction among the young

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

In recent decades, the incidence of myocardial infarction (MI) has declined among the general population. However, MI rates in the young have not decreased as much as has been observed among older individuals. This review will focus on recent trends of MI in young patients, factors that may account for these trends, and implications for future prevention.

RECENT FINDINGS

MI rates in young patients, particularly in women, have not decreased in the same fashion as they have for their older counterparts, with some studies reporting an increase. The reasons for these findings include underestimation of cardiovascular risk, and accordingly treatment, in the young, as well as an increasing prevalence of risk factors such as obesity and diabetes.

SUMMARY

Better recognition and treatment of cardiovascular risk factors among young adults may improve outcomes. There is a need for improved methods to assess and treat cardiovascular risk in young individuals.

What Do We Know About Young Adult Cardiac Patients' Experience? A Systematic Review

Background: Studies interested in patients coping with a cardiac illness usually focus on children, teenagers, and adults above the age of 55. Apart from the field of congenital heart diseases, there is a general lack of literature regarding young adult cardiac patients (18-55 years old) who seem to cope with psychosocial issues. Therefore, the objective of this paper was to gather all the research carried out concerning the psychological experiences of young adult cardiac patients. Methods and Results: A comprehensive, systematic review was conducted on quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-method studies in PsycINFO, PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Cochrane Library databases. Out of the 10,747 articles found, 32 were included. While we aimed to include many cardiac diseases, coronary patients dominated the data. Five main themes emerged: emotional states (depression, anxiety, emotional distress, and stress), quality of life (health-related quality of life, physical functioning, and sexuality), adjusting to the medical environment (coping with the disease, health behavior change, financial barriers, and interactions with medical professionals), social life (social support and work), and identity (parenthood, new challenges, and new meanings). The results highlighted that their levels of depression, anxiety, stress, and quality of life were sometimes worse than in the general population and than in older and younger patients coping with a cardiac illness. Social isolation, identity changes, work, and parenthood were the specific challenges that this population had to face. Furthermore, young adult cardiac patients showed worse health behavior profiles than the general population and felt that they lacked information from professionals, especially regarding sexuality. Compared to men, women had worse psychosocial outcomes, especially regarding depression, stress, emotional distress, and quality of life. Conclusions: Young adult cardiac patients are to be considered with their own identity and challenges. They may be in need of specific interventions, some dedicated to women, and better communication is necessary with their families and professional caregivers so as to improve the patient's mental health, quality of life, coping skills, and adherence.

Age-Related Sex Differences in Clinical Presentation, Management, and Outcomes in ST-Segment-Elevation Myocardial Infarction: Pooled Analysis of 15 532 Patients From 7 Arabian Gulf Registries

Background No studies from the Arabian Gulf region have taken age into account when examining sex differences in ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) presentation and outcomes. We examined the relationship between sex differences and presenting characteristics, revascularization procedures, and in-hospital mortality after accounting for age in patients hospitalized with STEMI in the Arabian Gulf region from 2005 to 2017. Methods and Results This study was a pooled analysis of 31 620 patients with a diagnosis of acute coronary syndrome enrolled in 7 Arabian Gulf registries. Of these, 15 532 patients aged ≥18 years were hospitalized with a primary diagnosis of STEMI. A multiple variable regression model was used to assess sex differences in revascularization, in-hospital mortality, and 1-year mortality. Odds ratios and 95% CIs were calculated. Women were, on average, 8.5 years older than men (mean age: 61.7 versus 53.2 years; absolute standard mean difference: 68.9%). The age-stratified analysis showed that younger women (aged <65 years) with STEMI were more likely to seek acute medical care and were less likely to receive thrombolytic therapies or primary percutaneous coronary intervention and guideline-recommended pharmacotherapy than men. Women had higher crude in-hospital mortality than men, driven mainly by younger age (46-55 years, odds ratio: 2.60 [95% CI, 1.80-3.7]; P<0.001; 56-65 years, odds ratio: 2.32 [95% CI, 1.75-3.08]; P<0.001; and 66-75 years, odds ratio: 1.79 [95% CI, 1.33-2.41]; P<0.001). Younger women had higher adjusted in-hospital and 1-year mortality rates than younger men (P<0.001). Conclusions Younger women (aged ≤65 years) with STEMI were less likely to receive guideline-recommended pharmacotherapy and revascularization than younger men during hospitalization and had higher in-hospital and 1-year mortality rates.

Coronary artery disease and acute coronary syndrome in women

There are important dissimilarities in clinical presentation, aggregation of comorbidities, cardiovascular risk factors and the quality of delivery of medical care among men and women with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Compared with men, despite the well-known older age and more pronounced frailty, women with ACS present later from symptom onset and are at high bleeding risk after invasive procedures. In addition, autoimmune/inflammatory disease, fibromuscular dysplasia, polycystic ovary, early menopause and history of pre-eclampsia are risk factors preceding ACS among younger women. They more often experience myocardial infarction in the absence of obstructive coronary arteries (MINOCA), which makes diagnosis and treatment of ACS among women more challenging compared with men. Women and men do both benefit from guideline-recommended treatment, although, compared with men, women with ACS have a higher adjusted risk of early death, which equalises between both sexes within the first year. Young women with ACS suffer frequently of depression and present often with MINOCA. Compared with young men, they (young women) have a higher risk of death. Therefore, focusing on young patients with ACS, understanding the particular physiopathology of MINOCA and developing programmes targeting comorbidities and depression-related behavioural risk factors are urgently needed.

Temporal Trends Analysis of the Characteristics, Management, and Outcomes of Women With Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS): ACS Israeli Survey Registry 2000-2016

Background Cardiovascular disease remains a leading cause of death among women. Despite improvements in the management of patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS), women with an ACS remain at higher risk. Methods and Results We performed a time-dependent analysis of the management and outcomes of women admitted with ACS who enrolled in the prospective biennial ACS Israeli Surveys between 2000 and 2016. Surveys were divided into 3 time periods (2000-2004, 2006-2010, and 2013-2016). Outcomes included 30-day major adverse cardiac events (death, myocardial infarction, stroke, unstable angina, stent thrombosis, urgent revascularization) and 1-year mortality. Overall, 3518 women were admitted with an ACS. Their mean age (70±12 years) was similar among the time periods. Over the time course of the study, more women were admitted with non-ST-elevation ACS (51.9%, 59.6%, and 66.1%, respectively; P<0.001), and statins and percutaneous coronary intervention were increasingly utilized (66%, 91%, 93%, and 42%, 60%, and 68%, respectively; P<0.001 for each). Among women with ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction, more primary percutaneous coronary interventions were performed (48.5%, 84.7%, and 95.3%, respectively; P<0.001). The rate of 30-day major adverse cardiac events has significantly decreased over the years (24.6%, 18.6%, and 13.5%, respectively; P<0.001). However, 1-year mortality rates declined only from 2000 to 2004 (16.9%, 12.8%, and 12.3%; P=0.007 for the overall difference), and this change was not significant after propensity matching or multivariate analysis. Conclusions Over more than a decade, 30-day major adverse cardiac events have decreased among women with ACS. Advances in pharmacological treatments and an early invasive approach may have accounted for this improvement. However, the lack of further reduction in 1-year mortality rates among women suggests that more measures should be provided in this high-risk population.

Gender Disparities in Health Resource Utilization in Patients with Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease: A Retrospective Cross-Sectional Study

Introduction

Gender disparities in access to healthcare have been documented, including disparities in access to care for cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Disparities in access to cardiologists could disadvantage some patients to the newer lipid-lowering proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 inhibitor (PCSK9i) antibodies, as utilization management criteria for PCSK9is often require step therapy with statins and/or ezetimibe and prescription by a cardiologist. To assess whether these utilization management criteria disproportionally limit access to patients with certain characteristics, we assessed the use of cardiologist care and receipt of statin and/or ezetimibe prescriptions from a cardiologist by gender and other patient demographic and clinical characteristics.

Methods

This cross-sectional study used administrative claims data from Inovalon’s Medical Outcomes Research for Effectiveness and Economics Registry (MORE² Registry^®) for patients enrolled in commercial and Medicare Advantage healthcare plans from January 1, 2014, through December 31, 2014. Provider data from the registry were linked to individual demographic and administrative claims data. Logistic regression models were used to assess characteristics associated with outpatient visits to a cardiologist and receipt of a prescription for statin and/or ezetimibe from a cardiologist.

Results

Data from 39,322 patients in commercial plans and 261,898 patients with Medicare Advantage were analyzed. Female gender (vs male) was associated with a significantly lower likelihood of visiting a cardiologist for patients in commercial plans (odds ratio [OR] 0.85; 95% confidence limit [CL] 0.81–0.88) and in Medicare Advantage plans (OR 0.82; 95% CL 0.81–0.83). Female gender was also associated with a lower likelihood of receiving a statin and/or ezetimibe prescription from a cardiologist for patients in commercial plans (OR 0.69; 95% CL 0.65–0.74) and in Medicare Advantage plans (OR 0.78; 95% CL 0.76–0.79).

Conclusions

Compared with men, women were less likely to visit a cardiologist and less likely to receive a prescription for a statin and/or ezetimibe from a cardiologist.

Funding

Amgen Inc.

Differences in Symptomatology and Clinical Course of Acute Coronary Syndromes in Women ≤45 Years of Age Compared to Older Women

Acute coronary syndromes (ACS) in young people are rare. The data regarding differences in symptoms in relation to age are scarce, which may have an influence on outcomes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the differences in the clinical course of ACS between younger women (≤45 years old) and older women (63-64 years old). We compared 7481 women with ACS from the Polish Registry of ACS between 2007 and 2014 (1834 women aged ≤45 years and 5647 women aged 63-64 years). The predominant symptom of ACS in both groups was chest pain, with a higher incidence occurring in younger women (90.4% vs 88.5%, P = 0.025). Prehospital cardiac arrest occurred more often in younger women (2.1% vs 0.8%, P < 0.001), and onset-to-balloon time was shorter (8.9 vs 15.2 hours, P < 0.0001) in this group. Younger women presented with a lower Killip class at admission (class I at admission: 92.7% vs 86.2%, P < 0.001). The dominant type of ACS in the younger cohort was ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) (42% vs 26.1%), localized mainly in the anterior wall (47.7% vs 36.1%, P < 0.001), with a higher percentage of total occlusion of infarct-related artery (TIMI 0, 45.2% vs 36.1%) and left anterior descending artery engagement for all (33.5% vs 26.5%, P < 0.001). Drug-eluting stents were often used in the younger patients (43.3% vs 38.2%, P = 0.003) without significant differences in percutaneous coronary intervention numbers. Pharmacotherapy was used less in younger women. The 30-day and 2-year mortality in young women was lower than in the older cohort. The clinical course of ACS in younger women differed in comparison to older women. Younger women had a higher occurrence of typical chest pain, STEMI, and left anterior descending artery engagement. Except STEMI patients young women received faster revascularization, however with no significant differences in invasive treatment. Pharmacotherapy was inadequate in younger women and that resulted in a lower usage of the beta-blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, and statins in that group. Short- and long-term mortality was low, regardless of the type of ACS.

Prognostic value of serum uric acid levels in patients with non-STEMI undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention

BACKGROUND

Because myocardial infarction in young adults is rare, there has been limited research on the condition in this patient group. Very few data are available regarding the long-term outcomes of patients under 40 years of age with non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) undergoing invasive treatments. The prognostic value of uric acid (UA) in young patients with NSTEMI who undergo percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has also not been studied. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the long-term clinical outcomes of this specific subset of young patients. In addition, we aimed to identify the role of serum UA in predicting the long-term prognosis of young patients with NSTEMI who have undergone PCI.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective analysis of 213 young adult patients (≤40 years old) with NSTEMI who underwent PCI during their hospitalization at our tertiary referral center.

RESULTS

The mean age of the 213 patients was 36.8 ± 3.3 years (range, 21-40 years). The median follow-up was 930 days. Our patients were predominantly male (88.3%) and the most frequent traditional cardiovascular risk factors were smoking and dyslipidemia. Baseline TIMI flow 0-1, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), and UA were found to be independently correlated with long-term major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) in multivariate Cox regression analysis.

CONCLUSION

In the present study, baseline TIMI flow 0-1, admission eGFR, and UA levels were correlated with MACEs during long-term follow-up in young patients with NSTEMI.

Contemporary differences between men and women with acute coronary syndromes: CIAM multicenter registry

AIM

Differences exist in the diagnosis and treatment of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) between men and women. However, recent advancements in the management of ACSs might have attenuated this sex gap. We evaluated the status of ACS management in a multicenter registry in 10 tertiary Spanish hospitals.

METHODS

We enrolled 1056 patients in our study, including only those with type 1 myocardial infarctions or unstable angina presumably not related to a secondary cause in an 'all-comers' design.

RESULTS

The women enrolled (29%) were older than men (71.0 ± 12.8 vs. 64.0 ± 12.3, P = 0.001), with a higher prevalence of hypertension (71.0 vs. 56.5%, P < 0.001), insulin-treated diabetes (13.7 vs. 7.9%, P = 0.003), dyslipidemia (62.2 vs. 55.3%, P = 0.038), and chronic kidney disease (16.9 vs. 9.1%, P = 0.001). Women presented more frequently with back or arm pain radiation (57.3 vs. 49.7%, P = 0.025), palpitations (5.9 vs. 2.0%, P = 0.001), or dyspnea (33.0 vs. 19.4%, P = 0.001). ACS without significant coronary stenosis was more prevalent in women (16.8 vs. 8.1%, P = 0.001). There were no differences in percutaneous revascularization rates, but drug-eluting stents were less frequently employed in women (75.4 vs. 67.8%, P = 0.024); women were less often referred to a cardiac rehabilitation program (19.9 vs. 33.9%, P = 0.001). There were no significant differences in in-hospital complications such as thrombosis or bleeding.

CONCLUSION

ACS presenting with atypical symptoms and without significant coronary artery stenosis is more frequent in women. Selection of either an invasive procedure or conservative management is not influenced by sex. Cardiac rehabilitation referral on discharge is underused, especially in women.

Women were noninferior to men in cardiovascular outcomes among patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention from Taiwan acute coronary syndrome full-spectrum registry

This study was conducted to compare the survival rate and the influencing factors between women and men following ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).A national-wide Acute Coronary Syndrome Full Spectrum Registry conducted by the Taiwan Society of Cardiology was used for data collection between October 2008 and January 2010. Details of 1621 patients with STEMI treated with primary PCI, including 1350 (83%) men and 271 (17%) women, were collected. Composite outcomes included all-cause death, myocardial reinfarction, and an ischemic stroke. Demographic data, comorbidities, clinical presentations, details of treatment received, and outcomes were recorded at 3-month intervals for 1 year.No significant difference was observed between men and women in the composite endpoints after STEMI during their hospital stay (5.5% vs 2.5%, P = .07). However, women showed significantly higher in-hospital and 1-year mortality rates than those of men (4.1% vs 1.8%, P = .008; 11.0% vs 4.1%, P = .000, respectively). Compared with men, women presented with higher age (mean age 68.9 vs 58.9 years, P = .001), less body weight (58.7 vs 70.9 kg, P < .001), more number of risk factors, delayed diagnosis, and more number of inadequate medical treatments. After adjusting for age and cardiovascular risk factors, the difference in mortality ceased to exist between men and women.Although female patients with STEMI-treated primary PCI had higher in-hospital and 1-year mortality rates than those of males in Taiwan, there was no gender difference after adjusting for age and cardiovascular risk factors.

Disparities in Cardiac Care of Women: Current Data and Possible Solutions

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death in women. The goal of this review is to address known disparities in cardiovascular care with regard to diagnosis and treatment of heart disease in women.

RECENT FINDINGS

Gender-specific differences in regard to the incidence, treatment, and outcomes of common cardiovascular pathology are increasingly recognized. Particular attention to ischemic heart disease, arrhythmia, congestive heart failure, and structural heart disease are reviewed in this article. There is a clear racial and ethnic discrepancy among women which is particularly concerning with a progressively diverse patient population. Medical and surgical treatment differences between men and women must be addressed by providers in order to optimize long-term outcomes among all patients. Understanding the unique cardiovascular risk profile and barriers to optimal treatment outcomes in women is imperative to eliminate the current disparities in cardiovascular disease.

Acute myocardial infarction in young women: current perspectives

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is the leading cause of death in women worldwide. Every year, in the USA alone, more than 30,000 young women <55 years of age are hospitalized with AMI. In recent decades, the incidence of AMI is increasing in younger women in the context of increasing metabolic syndrome, diabetes mellitus, and non-traditional risk factors such as stress, anxiety, and depression. Although women are classically considered to present with atypical chest pain, several observational data confirm that men and women experience similar rates of chest pain, with some differences in intensity, duration, radiation, and the choice of descriptors. Women also experience more number of symptoms and more prodromal symptoms compared with men. Suboptimal awareness, sociocultural and financial reasons result in pre-hospital delays in women and lower rates of access to care with resulting undertreatment with guideline-directed therapies. Causes of AMI in young women include plaque-related MI, microvascular dysfunction or vasospasm, and spontaneous coronary artery dissection. Compared with men, women have greater in-hospital, early and late mortality, as a result of baseline comorbidities. Post-AMI women have lower referral to cardiac rehabilitation with more dropouts, lower levels of physical activity, and poorer improvements in health status compared with men, with higher inflammatory levels at 1-year from index presentation. Future strategies should focus on primary and secondary prevention, adherence, and post-AMI health-related quality of life. This review discusses the current evidence in the epidemiology, diagnosis, and treatment of AMI in young women.