Gender differences in the management and survival of patients with acute myocardial infarction

Percutaneous revascularization and long term clinical outcomes of diabetic patients randomized in the Occluded Artery Trial (OAT)

BACKGROUND

Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) of a persistently totally occluded infarct-related artery (IRA) in stable high-risk patients >24h after myocardial infarction (MI) does not reduce the occurrence of death, re-infarction, or heart failure. Diabetic patients are at higher risk for cardiovascular events; we examined their outcomes overall with PCI and optimal medical therapy alone (MED).

METHODS

The long-term (7-year) outcomes of 454 diabetic patients (20.6%) randomized to PCI or MED in the Occluded Artery Trial (OAT) were assessed for the composite primary endpoint of death, re-MI, or New York Heart Association class IV heart failure. Diabetics and non-diabetics were compared and outcomes assessed by treatment strategy.

RESULTS

The 7-year cumulative primary event rate for diabetic patients was 35.0% vs. 19.4% in the non-diabetic cohort (p<0.001). Multivariable analyses revealed diabetes to be an independent predictor (p<0.01) for the primary outcome, fatal or nonfatal recurrent MI, Class IV Heart Failure (HF), and death. The 7-year cumulative primary event rates were 35.3% in the PCI group vs. 34.5% in the medical therapy group in diabetic patients (p=0.19) and 19.3% in the PCI group vs. 19.5% in the medical therapy group in patients without diabetes (p=0.60).

CONCLUSIONS

Despite the higher overall risk conferred by the presence of diabetes, PCI did not improve clinical outcomes in this subpopulation, and is not indicated in otherwise stable patients with a totally occluded infarct-related artery in the sub-acute phase after MI.

[Acute coronary syndrome in women. Gender differences]

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Our aims was to investigate possible gender differences in the diagnostic assessment, treatment and prognosis of patients admitted with acute coronary syndrome (ACS).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Prospective study of a cohort of 396 patients consecutively admitted to the coronary unit in the period of 18 months with the diagnoses of ACS. We divided the sample into two groups based on gender: 294 men and 102 women. We analysed the diagnostic assessment, hospital treatment, coronary revascularization (ICP), appearance of heart failure (HF) and in-hospital and 1-year mortality. We analyzed predictors of mortality in a multivariate model.

RESULTS

Women were older (70.9±11.9 versus 64.4±12.0; P<.001) and had more comorbidities such as hypertension (70.5% versus 53.7%; P=.003), diabetes (51.0% versus 33.3%; P<.01) and HF (20.5% versus 9.1%; P<.01) than men, while men had greater frequency of smoking (54.42% versus 13.73%; P<.001). Women had higher incidence of cardiogenic shock on admission. There were no differences in thrombolysis and women did not have a different pattern of access to coronary angiography, but men had greater frequency of ICP (50.8% versus 34.6%; P<.01). Women were more likely to develop a higher in-hospital HF (32.6% versus 25.9%; P<.05) and in-hospital mortality (17.6% versus 4.7%; P<.001). In the multivariate analyses, HF on admission OR 8.98 (3.29-24.47), older age OR 1.07 (1.01-1.13) and female gender OR 3.14 (1.27-7.74), were independent predictors of in-hospital mortality.

CONCLUSIONS

In our study, female gender was an independent predictor of in-hospital mortality in patients with ACS.

Predictors of in-hospital mortality difference between male and female patients with acute myocardial infarction

Many studies have demonstrated that, compared with men, women have increased long- and short-term mortality after acute myocardial infarction (AMI). The reasons for this mortality difference remain in dispute. We analyzed baseline characteristics, in-hospital management, and short-term outcomes of 1,246 men and 537 women with AMI to identify clinical variables that can predict the in-hospital mortality difference between genders. A higher in-hospital mortality was found in women with AMI than in men (11.9% vs 6.9%, p <0.001). Women were generally older, had a higher incidence of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and hyperlipidemia, and had a higher Killip class of cardiac function compared with men. Reperfusion therapy and beta-receptor blockers were underused in women. Using a multivariate logistic regression model, we identified age, history of hypertension and diabetes mellitus, Killip class of cardiac function, and administration of reperfusion therapy and beta-receptor blockers as significant predictors of in-hospital mortality in patients with AMI, with odds ratios of 1.05 (95% confidence interval [CI] approximately 1.03 to 1.07), 1.65 (95% CI 1.12 to 2.41), 1.92 (95% CI 1.27 to 2.90), 3.62 (95% CI 2.88 to 4.56), 0.39 (95% CI 0.24 to 0.66), and 0.63 (95% CI 0.43 to 0.93), respectively. In conclusion, women with AMI had a higher in-hospital mortality rate than did men, probably due to older age, higher incidence of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and hyperlipidemia, a higher Killip class of cardiac function, and less utilization of reperfusion therapy and beta-receptor blockers.

Differences in in-hospital mortality between men and women with acute myocardial infarction undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention in Japan: Tokai Acute Myocardial Infarction Study (TAMIS)

BACKGROUND

It is a matter of concern that women have higher in-hospital mortality rates than men with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI); however, it is not yet clear whether significant sex differences exist. This study aimed to determine if there are sex differences in the characteristics and in-hospital mortality among patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) undergoing PCI in Japan.

METHODS

We used data from 13 acute care hospitals in the Tokai region (central Japan) included in the sample from the TAMIS, a retrospective study of all patients admitted to these hospitals from 1995 to 1997 with a diagnosis of AMI. We abstracted the baseline and procedural characteristics from detailed chart reviews which included not only physician notes but also nursing notes, and a questionnaire included baseline characteristics, procedural course, and in-hospital mortality. Multivariate analysis was performed, controlling for age and other variables which were found to be significantly different between men and women by chi2 test or Mann-Whitney U test.

RESULTS

In TAMIS, we had a total of 2020 subjects. A total of 303 women and 1033 men undergoing PCI were included in the present study. There were sex differences in age, comorbid conditions, smoking status, activities of daily living, and heart failure on presentation. In univariate analysis, women had a higher in-hospital mortality rate than men; however, this sex difference disappeared after multivariable adjustment.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study demonstrates that women with AMI who undergo PCI do not have a significantly higher in-hospital mortality rate than men in Japan; additional larger-scale studies are needed to confirm these results.

Age-related differences in the delivery of cardiac management to women versus men with acute myocardial infarction in Japan: Tokai Acute Myocardial Infarction Study: TAMIS

It is of concern that women are more likely to undergo fewer diagnostic tests and receive less treatment for acute myocardial infarction (AMI) than men. However, it is still unclear whether gender differences exist according to age groups. Therefore, we studied the influence of gender on the delivery of cardiac management according to two age groups (< 65, >or= 65) in Japan. Data from the Tokai Acute Myocardial Infarction Study (TAMIS) sample were used. This is a retrospective study of all consecutive patients admitted to the 13 acute care hospitals in the Tokai region of Japan, which includes Aichi and Shizuoka Prefectures, with a diagnosis of AMI from 1995 to 1997. A total of 143 younger women, 822 younger men, 391 older women, and 611 older men were included. Information concerning patient demographics, in-hospital course, comorbid conditions, electrocardiography (ECG), ultrasound-echocardiography (UCG), treadmill test (TMT), coronary angiography (CAG), percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA), coronary artery bypass graft (CABG), intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP), mechanical ventilation, and in-hospital or discharge medication (thrombolytics, vasopressors, aspirin, beta-blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, calcium antagonists, nitrates) were collected. Among the young, after controlling for these baseline variables, women were significantly less likely to undergo PTCA compared to men (OR, 0.54, 95%CI, 0.35-0.82). After controlling for these baseline variables, only lipid-lowering therapy tended to be more frequent in women than in men among the elderly (OR, 2.79, 95%CI, 1.47-2.58). The findings suggest that younger women with AMI are less likely than younger men to undergo PTCA, and that older women with AMI are more likely to receive lipid-lowering therapy.

Age Differences in the Delivery of Cardiac Management to Women Versus Men With Acute Myocardial Infarction An Evaluation of the TAMIS-II Data

It is of concern that women are more likely to undergo fewer diagnostic tests and receive less treatment for acute myocardial infarction (AMI) than men. Our retrospective Tokai Acute Myocardial Infarction Study (TAMIS) indicated that there were gender differences according to age groups; however, the exact nature of these gender differences remains unclear. Therefore, using data from TAMIS-II, we studied the influence of gender on the delivery of cardiac management according to 2 age groups (< 65, >or= 65). TAMIS-II is a prospective study of all consecutive patients admitted to the 15 acute care hospitals in the Tokai region with the diagnosis of AMI from 2001 to 2003. A total of 169 younger women, 1246 younger men, 616 older women, and 1240 older men were included. Data on patient demographics, in-hospital course, comorbid conditions, electrocardiography (ECG), ultrasound-echocardiogram (UCG), treadmill test (TMT), coronary angiography (CAG), percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), coronary artery bypass grafts (CABG), intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP), mechanical ventilation, and in-hospital or discharge medications (thrombolytics, vasopressors, aspirin, beta-blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, calcium antagonists, nitrates) were collected. After controlling for these baseline variables, only lipid-lowering therapy tended to be more frequent in women than in men among the elderly (OR 1.55, 95%CI 1.00-2.38). The results from this Japanese chart review study, derived from detailed clinical data, indicated that the delivery pattern of cardiac management for female and male AMI patients during hospitalization and at discharge was very similar among the younger and older populations.

Womenʼs Hearts—Stress Management for Women With Ischemic Heart Disease

PURPOSE

This randomized controlled study aimed to evaluate the effects on psychosocial variables of a 1-year group-based cognitive-behavioral stress management program developed specifically for women with ischemic heart disease.

METHODS

The present explanatory (per protocol) analyses include 80 women who were randomized to a 1-year cognitive-behavioral stress management program and 86 who were randomized to usual care (age = 35-77 years). Data were obtained before randomization and after 1 year, when the intervention group had completed the program.

RESULTS

There were no statistically significant differences between the intervention and usual care groups in the psychosocial endpoints at randomization. Both groups improved in all psychosocial variables during the 1-year study period, but the rate of improvement was significantly greater in the intervention group for self-rated stress behavior (P = .006) and vital exhaustion (P = .03). Although changes were in favor of the treatment group also for depressive mood and quality of life, the rates of improvement between the 2 groups did not reach statistical significance (P = .23 and P = .10, respectively).

CONCLUSION

A 1-year cognitive-behavioral stress management program designed specifically for women improved psychological well-being in some aspects in comparison with usual care.