1
|
Civieri G, Kerkhof PLM, Montisci R, Iliceto S, Tona F. Sex differences in diagnostic modalities of coronary artery disease: Evidence from coronary microcirculation. Atherosclerosis 2023; 384:117276. [PMID: 37775426 DOI: 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2023.117276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2023] [Revised: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 10/01/2023]
Abstract
Although atherosclerosis is usually considered a disease of the large arteries, risk factors for atherosclerosis also trigger structural and functional abnormalities at a microvascular level. In cardiac disease, microvascular dysfunction is especially relevant in women, among whom the manifestation of ischemic disease due to impaired coronary microcirculation is more common than in men. This sex-specific clinical phenotype has important clinical implications and, given the higher pre-test probability of coronary microvascular dysfunction in females, different diagnostic modalities should be used in women compared to men. In this review, we summarize invasive and non-invasive diagnostic modalities to assess coronary microvascular function, ranging from catheter-based evaluation of endothelial function to Doppler echocardiography and positron emission tomography. Moreover, we discuss different clinical settings in which microvascular disease plays an important role, underlining the importance of choosing the right diagnostic modality depending on the sex of the patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Civieri
- Cardiology Unit, Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Peter L M Kerkhof
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, VUmc, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Roberta Montisci
- Clinical Cardiology, AOU Cagliari, Department of Medical Science and Public Health, University of Cagliari, Italy
| | - Sabino Iliceto
- Cardiology Unit, Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Francesco Tona
- Cardiology Unit, Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padua, Padua, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Oliveira GMMD, Almeida MCCD, Rassi DDC, Bragança ÉOV, Moura LZ, Arrais M, Campos MDSB, Lemke VG, Avila WS, Lucena AJGD, Almeida ALCD, Brandão AA, Ferreira ADDA, Biolo A, Macedo AVS, Falcão BDAA, Polanczyk CA, Lantieri CJB, Marques-Santos C, Freire CMV, Pellegrini D, Alexandre ERG, Braga FGM, Oliveira FMFD, Cintra FD, Costa IBSDS, Silva JSN, Carreira LTF, Magalhães LBNC, Matos LDNJD, Assad MHV, Barbosa MM, Silva MGD, Rivera MAM, Izar MCDO, Costa MENC, Paiva MSMDO, Castro MLD, Uellendahl M, Oliveira Junior MTD, Souza OFD, Costa RAD, Coutinho RQ, Silva SCTFD, Martins SM, Brandão SCS, Buglia S, Barbosa TMJDU, Nascimento TAD, Vieira T, Campagnucci VP, Chagas ACP. Position Statement on Ischemic Heart Disease - Women-Centered Health Care - 2023. Arq Bras Cardiol 2023; 120:e20230303. [PMID: 37556656 PMCID: PMC10382148 DOI: 10.36660/abc.20230303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/11/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Walkiria Samuel Avila
- Instituto do Coração (Incor) do Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (FMUSP), São Paulo, SP - Brasil
| | | | | | | | | | - Andreia Biolo
- Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS - Brasil
| | | | | | | | | | - Celi Marques-Santos
- Universidade Tiradentes (UNIT), Aracaju, SE - Brasil
- Hospital São Lucas Rede D'Or São Luis, Aracaju, SE - Brasil
| | | | - Denise Pellegrini
- Hospital São Lucas da Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul (PUC-RS), Porto Alegre, RS - Brasil
| | | | - Fabiana Goulart Marcondes Braga
- Instituto do Coração (Incor) do Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (FMUSP), São Paulo, SP - Brasil
| | | | | | | | | | - Lara Terra F Carreira
- Cardiologia Nuclear de Curitiba, Curitiba, PR - Brasil
- Hospital Pilar, Curitiba, PR - Brasil
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Marly Uellendahl
- Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, SP - Brasil
- DASA - Diagnósticos da América S/A, São Paulo, SP - Brasil
| | - Mucio Tavares de Oliveira Junior
- Instituto do Coração (Incor) do Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (FMUSP), São Paulo, SP - Brasil
| | | | | | - Ricardo Quental Coutinho
- Faculdade de Ciências Médicas da Universidade de Pernambuco (UPE), Recife, PE - Brasil
- Hospital Universitário Osvaldo Cruz da Universidade de Pernambuco (UPE), Recife, PE - Brasil
| | | | - Sílvia Marinho Martins
- Pronto Socorro Cardiológico de Pernambuco da Universidade de Pernambuco (PROCAPE/UPE), Recife, PE - Brasil
| | | | - Susimeire Buglia
- Instituto do Coração (Incor) do Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (FMUSP), São Paulo, SP - Brasil
- Instituto Dante Pazzanese de Cardiologia, São Paulo, SP - Brasil
| | | | | | - Thais Vieira
- Universidade Tiradentes (UNIT), Aracaju, SE - Brasil
- Rede D'Or, Aracaju, SE - Brasil
- Hospital Universitário da Universidade Federal de Sergipe (UFS), Aracaju, SE - Brasil
| | | | - Antonio Carlos Palandri Chagas
- Instituto do Coração (Incor) do Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (FMUSP), São Paulo, SP - Brasil
- Centro Universitário Faculdade de Medicina ABC, Santo André, SP - Brasil
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Almeida VRD, Ostolin TLVDP, Gonze BDB, de Almeida FR, Romiti M, Arantes RL, Dourado VZ. Early flattening of the oxygen pulse during the cardiopulmonary exercise test in asymptomatic adults and its association with cardiovascular risk factors. Int J Cardiol 2022; 367:65-73. [PMID: 35944764 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijcard.2022.08.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2022] [Revised: 07/06/2022] [Accepted: 08/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Individuals with cardiovascular exercise limitations present oxygen pulse morphology with early flattening (plateau) during the cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET). Although this oxygen pulse response is well known in cardiac patients, these changes' prevalence and clinical relevance in asymptomatic individuals are not known. We aimed to quantify the proportion of asymptomatic adults with an early flattening of the oxygen pulse and investigate its association with classical cardiovascular risk factors. METHODS We carried out a cross-sectional study with a sample of 824 adults aged between 18 and 80 years. We assessed anthropometry, body composition, and cardiovascular risk. In addition, we obtained cardiorespiratory and metabolic responses during a ramp protocol treadmill CPET. RESULTS The prevalence of early flattening of the oxygen pulse was 36.8%. These participants were predominantly females, older, less educated, with a higher body mass and percentage of fat and a lower percentage of lean body mass. After a multinominal multiple logistic regression analysis, we identified female sex (odds ratio, 5.46: 95% confidence interval, 3.73-7.99), low education (2.24: 1.47-3.42), dyslipidemia (1.67: 1.14-2.45), smoking (1.64: 1.00-2.69), and physical inactivity (1.39: 1.02-1.96) as the leading independent predictors of the early flattening of oxygen pulse. CONCLUSION The early flattening of oxygen pulse is common in asymptomatic adults and is highly determined by modifiable cardiovascular risk factors. These results suggest that identifying the early flattening of oxygen pulse may be helpful in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Vitor Rossi de Almeida
- Department of Human Movement Sciences, Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP), Santos, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Bárbara de Barros Gonze
- Department of Human Movement Sciences, Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP), Santos, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Flávio Rossi de Almeida
- Department of Human Movement Sciences, Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP), Santos, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Marcello Romiti
- Angiocorpore Institute of Cardiovascular Medicine, Santos, São Paulo, Brazil.
| | | | - Victor Zuniga Dourado
- Department of Human Movement Sciences, Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP), Santos, São Paulo, Brazil; Lown Scholars Program-Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States of America.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Peix A, Padrón K, Cabrera LO, Pardo L, Sánchez J. Left ventricular mechanical dyssynchrony in patients with chest pain and normal epicardial coronary arteries. J Nucl Cardiol 2021; 28:1055-1063. [PMID: 31267412 DOI: 10.1007/s12350-019-01804-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2019] [Accepted: 06/15/2019] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND To detect ischemia in patients with angina and normal coronaries frequently represents a complex diagnosis. METHODS To investigate whether left ventricular mechanical dyssynchrony by phase analysis contributes in the evaluation of patients with chest pain and normal coronaries, gated-SPECT myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) at rest and 30 minutes post-stress was performed in 218 patients with normal epicardial coronaries, who were divided into two groups: those with summed difference score (SDS) ≥ 4 (54 patients, Group 1), and those with SDS < 4 (164 patients, Group 2). Intraventricular synchronism-phase standard deviation (PSD) and histogram bandwidth (HBW)-was evaluated by phase analysis. RESULTS Women were significantly more frequent in Group 2 (those without ischemia in SPECT MPI): 113 (69%) vs 25 (46%), P = .00001. In males, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and ventricular volumes were not significantly different between patients with or without ischemia. However, ischemic females showed significantly higher ventricular volumes, minor post-stress LVEF and more negative delta LVEF (- 3.9 vs 0.34, P = .0008) than the non-ischemic ones. There was a significant post-stress increase of PSD and HBW among males, although not among females. According to SSS (≥ 4, with ischemia/necrosis; < 4, without ischemia/necrosis), post-stress PSD and HBW significantly increase both in male and female, and PSD and HBW were significantly higher in females with SSS ≥ 4 compared to those with SSS < 4 (PSD rest: 19.04° vs 11.72°, P < .0001; HBW rest: 58.85° vs 38.21°, P < .0001). PSD and HBW were also higher among males with SSS ≥ 4 compared to those with SSS < 4, although not significantly. CONCLUSION Higher ventricular volumes in females and dyssynchrony are associated with inducible ischemia in MPI in patients with chest pain and normal coronaries. Stress-induced ischemia increases degree of dyssynchrony.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Amalia Peix
- Institute of Cardiology and Cardiovascular Surgery, Havana, Cuba.
- Nuclear Medicine Department, Institute of Cardiology, 17 No. 702, Vedado, CP 10 400, Havana, Cuba.
| | - Kenia Padrón
- Institute of Cardiology and Cardiovascular Surgery, Havana, Cuba
- Nuclear Medicine Department, Institute of Cardiology, 17 No. 702, Vedado, CP 10 400, Havana, Cuba
| | - Lázaro O Cabrera
- Institute of Cardiology and Cardiovascular Surgery, Havana, Cuba
- Nuclear Medicine Department, Institute of Cardiology, 17 No. 702, Vedado, CP 10 400, Havana, Cuba
| | - Leticia Pardo
- Institute of Cardiology and Cardiovascular Surgery, Havana, Cuba
- Nuclear Medicine Department, Institute of Cardiology, 17 No. 702, Vedado, CP 10 400, Havana, Cuba
| | - Jesús Sánchez
- Institute of Cybernetics, Mathematics and Physics, Havana, Cuba
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Waheed N, Elias-Smale S, Malas W, Maas AH, Sedlak TL, Tremmel J, Mehta PK. Sex differences in non-obstructive coronary artery disease. Cardiovasc Res 2020; 116:829-840. [PMID: 31958135 DOI: 10.1093/cvr/cvaa001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2019] [Revised: 12/03/2019] [Accepted: 01/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Ischaemic heart disease is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in both women and men. Compared with men, symptomatic women who are suspected of having myocardial ischaemia are more likely to have no obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) on coronary angiography. Coronary vasomotor disorders and coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD) have been increasingly recognized as important contributors to angina and adverse outcomes in patients with no obstructive CAD. CMD from functional and structural abnormalities in the microvasculature is associated with adverse cardiac events and mortality in both sexes. Women may be particularly susceptible to vasomotor disorders and CMD due to unique factors such as inflammation, mental stress, autonomic, and neuroendocrine dysfunction, which predispose to endothelial dysfunction and CMD. CMD can be detected with coronary reactivity testing and non-invasive imaging modalities; however, it remains underdiagnosed. This review focuses on sex differences in presentation, pathophysiologic risk factors, diagnostic testing, and prognosis of CMD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nida Waheed
- Department of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Suzette Elias-Smale
- Department of Cardiology, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Waddah Malas
- Emory Women's Heart Center, Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Emory University, 1462 Clifton Rd, Suite 505, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA
| | - Angela H Maas
- Department of Cardiology, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Tara L Sedlak
- Leslie Diamond Women's Heart Center, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Jennifer Tremmel
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Puja K Mehta
- Emory Women's Heart Center, Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Emory University, 1462 Clifton Rd, Suite 505, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Kuruvilla S, Kramer CM. Coronary microvascular dysfunction in women: an overview of diagnostic strategies. Expert Rev Cardiovasc Ther 2014; 11:1515-25. [PMID: 24160578 DOI: 10.1586/14779072.2013.833854] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD) also known as syndrome X, is characterized by typical anginal symptoms, evidence of myocardial ischemia on non-invasive testing and normal to minimal coronary disease on coronary angiography. It has a female preponderance and has been detected in up to 50% of women presenting with chest pain symptoms. Definitive diagnosis of CMD is critical as recent evidence suggests that women with this condition are at increased risk of cardiovascular events in the future. Invasive coronary reactivity testing on coronary angiography is considered to be the 'gold standard' for diagnosis of CMD. Non-invasive imaging techniques such as PET and cardiac magnetic resonance hold promise for detection of CMD in the future.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sujith Kuruvilla
- Department of Medicine (Cardiology), University of Virginia Health System, Charlottesville, VA, USA and
| | | |
Collapse
|
7
|
Microvascular coronary disease in women: Role of the cardiopulmonary exercise testing. Int J Cardiol 2013; 168:3012-3. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijcard.2013.04.055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2013] [Accepted: 04/05/2013] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
|
8
|
Peix A, González A, García EJ, Valiente J, Cabrera LO, Sixto S, Filgueiras CE, Cabalé B, Hechavarría S, González I, Carrillo R, García-Barreto D. Left ventricular dysfunction secondary to ischemia in women with angina and normal coronary angiograms. J Womens Health (Larchmt) 2009; 18:155-61. [PMID: 19183086 DOI: 10.1089/jwh.2008.0844] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Microvascular disease is proposed as a cause of segmental myocardial blood flow abnormalities and heterogeneous myocardial perfusion in cardiac syndrome X. OBJECTIVE To assess if myocardial ischemia can be evidenced through both perfusion abnormalities and poststress left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) reduction by gated single photon emission tomography (SPECT) myocardial scintigraphy in women with syndrome X in a similar way to those with epicardial coronary lesions. METHODS Three groups of postmenopausal women were studied: group I, 20 women with angina, perfusion defects, and normal coronary angiography; group II, 20 women with epicardial coronary lesions (> or =50% of coronary lumen reduction); group III, 15 volunteers without signs or symptoms of ischemia (control group). Each underwent technetium-99m ((99m)TC) methoxyisobutylisonitrile gated SPECT myocardial scintigraphy (protocol: exercise-stress-rest), brachial artery endothelial function measured by ultrasonography, and lipidogram. RESULTS Groups I and III patients had a higher body mass index (BMI). There were more smokers in groups I and II. Very low density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C) and triglycerides were higher in group II patients. The brachial artery vasodilator responsiveness after 5 minutes of ischemia was similarly lower in patients of groups I and II compared with those of group III (3% vs. 6.5%, respectively; p = 0.03 group III vs. group I and group II). Mean DeltaLVEF (LVEF poststress minus LVEF at rest) was -3.86%, -2.90%, and 4.18% in groups I, II, and III, respectively (p = NS between I and II, p = 0.005 between II and III, and p = 0.003 between I and III). In 43% of group I patients and in 10 of 18 group III patients with perfusion defects, there was a poststress LVEF reduction >5%. CONCLUSIONS Stress-induced ischemia is associated with poststress LVEF reduction as a probable manifestation of myocardial stunning in postmenopausal women with typical angina and normal coronary angiography.
Collapse
|
9
|
Chaudhry S, Arena R, Wasserman K, Hansen JE, Lewis GD, Myers J, Chronos N, Boden WE. Exercise-induced myocardial ischemia detected by cardiopulmonary exercise testing. Am J Cardiol 2009; 103:615-9. [PMID: 19231322 PMCID: PMC3035935 DOI: 10.1016/j.amjcard.2008.10.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2008] [Revised: 10/25/2008] [Accepted: 10/25/2008] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) is a well-accepted physiologic evaluation technique in patients diagnosed with heart failure and in patients presenting with unexplained dyspnea on exertion. Several variables obtained during CPET, including oxygen consumption relative to heart rate and work rate provide consistent, quantitative patterns of abnormal physiologic responses to graded exercise when left ventricular dysfunction is caused by myocardial ischemia. This concept report describes both the methodology and clinical application of CPET associated with myocardial ischemia. Initial evidence indicates left ventricular dysfunction induced by myocardial ischemia may be accurately detected by an abnormal CPET response. CPET testing may complement current noninvasive testing modalities that elicit inducible ischemia. It provides a physiologic quantification of the work rate, heart rate, and O(2) uptake at which myocardial ischemia develops. In conclusion, adding CPET with gas exchange measurements is likely to be of value in diagnosing and quantifying both overt and occult myocardial ischemia and its reversibility with treatment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sundeep Chaudhry
- Research and Development Department, Met-test, Inc, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
10
|
Chaudhry S, Arena R, Wasserman K, Hansen JE, Lewis GD, Myers J, Belardinelli R, LaBudde B, Menasco N, Boden WE. The utility of cardiopulmonary exercise testing in the assessment of suspected microvascular ischemia. Int J Cardiol 2009; 148:e7-9. [PMID: 19233492 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijcard.2009.01.055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2009] [Accepted: 01/26/2009] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Evidence demonstrating the potential value of cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) to accurately detect myocardial ischemia secondary to macro-vascular disease is beginning to emerge. Despite distinct mechanisms mediating ischemia in micro-vascular and macrovascular coronary artery disease (CAD), the net physiologic effect of exercise-induced left ventricular (LV) dysfunction is common to both. The abnormal physiologic response to CPET may, therefore, be similar in patients with macro- and micro-vascular ischemia. The following case report describes the CPET abnormalities in a patient with suspected microvascular CAD and the subsequent improvement in LV function following three weeks of medical therapy with the anti-ischemic drug ranolazine.
Collapse
|
11
|
[Gender as a key effect modifier of the relationship between physician work stressors and the acquired cardiovascular disorders]. MEDICINSKI PREGLED 2008; 61:343-9. [PMID: 19097369 DOI: 10.2298/mpns0808343n] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
UNLABELLED To assess gender as an effect-modifier vis-â-vis exposure to work stressors and the acquired cardiovascular disorders (ACVDC). METHOD The Occupational Stress Index for physicians was used in a case-control study (>90% participation rate) among physicians in Novi Sad (Cases: 50 males and 51 females with ACVD, Referents: 46 males and 6l females without ACVD). RESULTS Patterns of disease manifestation, sociodemography, risk factors, Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) tendency and exposure to work stressors differed in male compared to female physicians with ACVD. Accounting for these covariates, the males with ACVD had significantly higher general-level threat avoidance vigilance scores (more witnessed accidents at work and expert-witnessing in court (p < 0.0l)). Female physicians with ACVD had higher general-level underload (more fixed pay) and strictness (more limited decision-making concerning work-schedules and institutional policies) (p < 0.05). In stratified analysis, the relationship between working conditions and ACVD was most apparent among the women physicians. Compared to those without ACVD, female physicians with ACVD showed higher extrinsic time-pressure (speed-up (p < 0.01)), threat of job loss (p < 0.05), and elements of high demand (heterogeneous information, complex and heterogeneous task performance) (p < 0.05)), after accounting for covariates. Females in the surgical care specialties with ACVD were exposed to significantly higher demands, speed-up, and need for constant high attention than their female colleagues without ACVD, after accounting for covariates. CONCLUSION Gender is a key effect-modifier of the relationship between exposure to work stressors and ACVD among physicians. Intervention studies should consider gender-specific work stressors, as well as those specific to physicians.
Collapse
|