title: Gender differences in the presentation of adult obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy with resting gradient: a study of 122 patients.
abstract: The present study investigated gender differences among adult patients with obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (OHCM) and resting gradient. Using outflow gradients >10 mmHg and the presence of asymmetrical septal hypertrophy of the left ventricle as inclusion criteria, 122 patients were identified among patients referred for echocardiographic examinations between May 1990 and October 1996. Clinical, echocardiographical and follow-up data were compared between male and female patients. The female patients were significantly older than male patients (mean age +/-SD 66.7+/-10.5 vs 54.8+/-12.5 years). The female patients had a smaller interventricular septal wall thickness, less frequent systolic anterior movement of the mitral valve, more frequent association with hypertension, and less frequent association with ischemic heart disease (IHD) and giant T wave inversion. In this study population, adult female patients presented with OHCM 12 years later than males. Whether this represents female patients' reluctance to seek medical attention early, a different disease process that affects predominantly elderly females, or a gender-specific end organ response to aging, hypertension, IHD and other processes, or the protective effects of estrogen remains to be determined.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University, Taiwan, Republic of China.
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: C W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Chiang
authors.forename: C K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Shaw
authors.forename: P H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Chu
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Y L
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Ko
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002312:Cardiomyopathy, Hypertrophic / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004071:Digitalis Glycosides / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012737:Sex Factors; D015996:Survival Rate; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014694:Ventricular Outflow Obstruction / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D004071:Digitalis Glycosides