Heart failure in women.
Women who experience heart failure (HF) exhibit distinct differences from men. Because women are a minority in major HF trials and because diagnostic criteria have been variable in epidemiologic surveys, many questions remain unanswered. This article describes differences in sex hormone effects and responses to injury, pressure overload, and aging, which may account for differences observed in epidemiology, risk factors and causes, mechanisms for disease development, response to treatment, and outcomes. Hypertension,diastolic dysfunction, diabetes, obesity, and inactivity are more important factors in women, whereas ischemic heart disease and systolic dysfunction are more important factors in men. Women appear to benefit less from established treatments but have better survival. Future studies directed exclusively at women may be warranted to confirm or establish benefits of existing and future treatments.
Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY 10032, USA.
Lars H
LH
Lund
Donna
D
Mancini
D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D002317:Cardiovascular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002423:Cause of Death; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic / Q000592:standards; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000150:complications; D016757:Death, Sudden, Cardiac / Q000209:etiology; D016021:Epidemiologic Studies; D005260:Female; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000502:physiology; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications; D008875:Middle Aged; D018579:Patient Selection; D011379:Prognosis; D012307:Risk Factors; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012737:Sex Factors; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D016387:Women's Health
D002317:Cardiovascular Agents; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones