Sex differences in myocardial infarction and coronary deaths in the Scottish MONICA population of Glasgow 1985 to 1991. Presentation, diagnosis, treatment, and 28-day case fatality of 3991 events in men and 1551 events in women.
BACKGROUND
Scottish MONICA used medical and medico-legal records and World Health Organization MONICA Project criteria to register coronary events in 25- to 64-year-old residents of the high-incidence area of north Glasgow from 1985 to 1991.


RESULTS
Age-standardized data from 3991 episodes of nonfatal definite myocardial infarction and coronary deaths in men (mean age, 55.5 years) were compared with 1551 in women (57.0 years). Many results, such as the overall 28-day fatality rates of 49.8% in men and 48.5% in women, showed insignificant differences. However, 74.3% of deaths in men occurred out of hospital versus 67.8% in women (P = .0004). After admission to hospital, fatality rates in women were 14% higher (P = .07) and after admission to coronary care, 22% higher (P = .04). Women were more often widowed. Fewer had a history of previous myocardial infarction, but the prevalence of angina pectoris, of smoking, and of chest pain in the attack was the same as in men; more had shock, syncope, and breathlessness. More consulted a doctor before admission to hospital, which delayed their coming under care. More men had ECG Q-wave progression, and more women had smaller ECG changes. This, and marginally reduced chances of direct admission to coronary care, of thrombolysis, of aspirin, and of beta-blockers, did not explain women's excess hospital fatality.


CONCLUSIONS
Acute coronary events appear to be recognized and treated fairly equally in men and women 25 to 64 years old in Glasgow, so differences are small but subtle. More men die suddenly out of hospital; the reason why more women die after arrival may be because the equivalent number of men have already died outside.
Tunstall-Pedoe
H
H
Scottish MONICA Project: Cardiovascular Epidemiology Unit, University of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital, Glasgow, Scotland, UK.
Morrison
C
C
Woodward
M
M
Fitzpatrick
B
B
Watt
G
G
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D017130:Angioplasty / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D016887:Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015331:Cohort Studies; D017023:Coronary Angiography / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003325:Coronary Care Units / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality* / Q000628:therapy; D016757:Death, Sudden, Cardiac / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D004363:Drug Utilization; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D009204:Myocardial Revascularization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010045:Outpatients / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012606:Scotland / Q000453:epidemiology; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D016019:Survival Analysis; D015996:Survival Rate; D015912:Thrombolytic Therapy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014944:World Health Organization
D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents