Heart health and gender.
BACKGROUND
Although mortality from cardiovascular diseases is at least as high among women as among men, the notion that such illnesses are gender-specific, afflicting mainly males, continues to influence our present day understanding of heart disease.


OBJECTIVE
To compare the average length of stay for men and women admitted to the CCU over a 14-month period.


METHODS
All patients admitted to the CCU of a university-affiliated hospital over a 14-month period were included in the study (n = 167). T-test and chi-square were used to analyze means and percentages, respectively.


RESULTS
Significantly more men than women gained admittance to the CCU during the time of this study (p < .001). Differences in average length of stay were not statistically significant, however. Similar numbers of men and women underwent cardiac catheterization.


CONCLUSIONS
Gender considerations have emerged as a major issue in the diagnosis and treatment of heart disease in women. Although fewer women than men were admitted to the CCU during the study period, similar percentages had invasive interventions performed.
Hynes-Gay
P
P
Adult Critical Care Unit, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ontario.
D000368:Aged; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors