Objective:
To describe gender differences in lifestyle and risk factor management, and the use of cardioprotective drug therapies in patients with coronary heart disease in Europe.
Methods:
The EUROASPIRE IV survey was a cross-sectional study carried out under the auspices of the European Society of Cardiology, EURObservational Research Programme in 2012-2013 in 78 centers in 24 European countries. Consecutive patients <80 years after acute coronary syndrome or revascularization were identified from hospital records and interviewed and examined at least 6 months later using standardized methods and instruments.
Results:
A total of 7998 patients (24.4% females) were interviewed on average 16 months after having experienced a cardiac event. Women were older (mean age 66.3 years [SD 9.0] vs 63.2 [9.7], p<0.001), had a lower level of education, and had more often unstable angina (14.4% vs 9%, p<0.001) at inclusion than men. Comparing women with men, the prevalence of the risk factors were as follows (p-values adjusted for age and center): current smoking 11.1% vs 17.6% (p<0.001), obesity (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2) 43.8% vs 35.6% (p<0.001), central obesity (waist circumference ≥ 102 cm in men or ≥ 88 cm in women) 75.2% vs 52.8% (p<0.001), raised blood pressure (BP ≥ 140/90 mmHg, ≥ 140/80 mmHg in patients with diabetes) 43.8% vs 42.4%, (p=0.662), elevated LDL-cholesterol (≥ 1.8 mmol/l) 84.4% vs 79.2% (p<0.001) and self reported diabetes 30.1% vs 25.7% (p=0.013). Reported use of prophylactic drug therapies for the same comparison was: antiplatelets 92.4% vs. 94.3% (p=0.102); beta-blockers 82.5% vs. 82.6% (p=0.858); ACE inhibitors/ARBs 74.6% vs. 75.3% (p=0.187); and statins 83.5% vs. 86.4% (p=0.039). The therapeutic control of blood pressure, LDL-cholesterol and diabetes (HbA1c < 7 mmol/L) was: 53.7% vs 53.1% (p=0.171), 17.3% vs 22.3% (p<0.001) and 49.2% vs 53.8% (p=0.015), respectively.
Conclusion:
The results show that women with coronary heart disease have higher prevalence of obesity, central obesity, LDL-cholesterol and self-reported diabetes than men. Despite similarities in pharmacological treatment women reach less often than men the therapeutic goals of LDL-cholesterol after acute coronary event or revascularization.
Association of Total and Central Obesity with Mortality in Postmenopausal Women with Coronary Heart Disease
