[Sudden cardiac death: Are women different?]

Sex Disparities in Sudden Cardiac Death

The overall incidence of sudden cardiac death is considerably lower among women than men, reflecting significant and often under-recognized sex differences. Women are older at time of sudden cardiac death, less likely to have a prior cardiac diagnosis, and less likely to have coronary artery disease identified on postmortem examination. They are more likely to experience their death at home, during sleep, and less likely witnessed. Women are also more likely to present in pulseless electrical activity or systole rather than ventricular fibrillation or ventricular tachycardia. Conversely, women are less likely to receive bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation or receive cardiac intervention post-arrest. Underpinning sex disparities in sudden cardiac death is a paucity of women recruited to clinical trials, coupled with an overall lack of prespecified sex-disaggregated evidence. Thus, predominantly male-derived data form the basis of clinical guidelines. This review outlines the critical sex differences concerning epidemiology, cause, risk factors, prevention, and outcomes. We propose 4 broad areas of importance to consider: physiological, personal, community, and professional factors.

[Out-of-hospital sudden cardiac arrest and COVID-19 pandemic]

Depuis l’apparition de la pandémie de la COVID-19, la mortalité due à l’infection à la COVID-19 a été tracée partout dans le monde, avec un recensement quotidien de nombre de décès. Des mesures ont été prises concernant le fonctionnement social et professionnel, et les systèmes de santé ont été réorganisés afin de limiter la propagation du virus, et permettre une prise en charge de l’affût de patients dans les hôpitaux. Des questions se sont posées quant à l’impact indirect de la pandémie, avec notamment des inquiétudes concernant les potentiels retards de prise en charge des maladies non liées à la COVID-19, avec le confinement, la diminution voire l’arrêt des consultations et interventions médicales non urgentes et la diminution des examens pour dépistage. La mort subite a pu être impactée par tous ces changements, et constitue généralement un bon marqueur de santé publique. Dans cet article nous détaillerons l’impact de la pandémie de la COVID-19 sur l’épidémiologie des morts subites.

Implantable cardioverter defibrillator therapy for primary prevention of sudden cardiac death in the real world: Main findings from the French multicentre DAI-PP programme (pilot phase)

This review summarizes the main findings of the French multicentre DAI-PP pilot programme, and discusses the related clinical and research perspectives. This project included retrospectively (2002-2012 period) more than 5000 subjects with structural heart disease who received an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) for primary prevention of sudden cardiac death, and were followed for a mean period of 3 years. The pilot phase of the DAI-PP programme has provided valuable information on several practical and clinically relevant aspects of primary prevention ICD implantation in the real-world population, which are summarized in this review. This pilot has led to a prospective evaluation that started in May 2018, assessing ICD therapy in primary and secondary prevention in patients with structural and electrical heart diseases, with remote monitoring follow-up using a dedicated platform. This should further enhance our understanding of sudden cardiac death, to eventually optimize the field of preventative actions.

Impact of Sex Differences and Diabetes on Coronary Atherosclerosis and Ischemic Heart Disease

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) including coronary artery disease (CAD) and ischemic heart disease (IHD) are the main cause of mortality in industrialized countries. Although it is well known that there is a difference in the risk of these diseases in women and men, current therapy does not consider the sexual dimorphism; i.e., differences in anatomical structures and metabolism of tissues. Here, we discuss how genetic, epigenetic, hormonal, cellular or molecular factors may explain the different CVD risk, especially in high-risk groups such as women with diabetes. We analyze whether sex may modify the effects of diabetes at risk of CAD. Finally, we discuss current diagnostic techniques in the evaluation of CAD and IHD in diabetic women.

[Emergency treatment of myocardial infarction in women]

Acute myocardial infarction (MI) affects mainly men. In women, chest pain is less typical, delaying the diagnosis and increasing the time before treatment is delivered. Morbidity-mortality is greater notably due to a modification of the myocardial reperfusion strategy. The acute care of MI is almost identical for men and women. Knowing more about the epidemiology of women with MI enables prevention strategies to be targeted.

[Cardiorespiratory arrest at the age of 30]

The cardiovascular risk of women is specific and polymorphous. Delays in treatment in women are evident and caused by multiple social and anthropological factors as well as changes to lifestyle habits which are becoming similar to those of men. Young women thereby have a higher risk of sudden death than the rest of the female and general population. A nurse who experienced cardiorespiratory arrest at the age of 30 shares her story.