Gender differences in the treatment and secondary prevention of CHD at population level.
OBJECTIVE
Treatment and secondary prevention measures, received by persons with coronary heart disease (CHD), are insufficiently known at the moment. The aim of this study was to investigate the state of treatment and secondary prevention of CHD in a population-based sample and to analyze possible gender differences in different age groups.


METHODS
300 men and 300 women with CHD were identified from a nationally representative health examination survey with 88% participation rate, carried out in Finland in 2000-2001.


RESULTS
Revascularization had been performed on 34% (95% confidence interval 29, 40%) of men and 13% (8, 18%) of women. Moreover, 76% (71, 81%) of the men and 63% (57, 69%) of the women used antithrombotic medications. Two thirds of both men and women used beta-blockers and one third lipid-lowering medication. Smoking was more common among men, whereas obesity and high total cholesterol concentration were more common among women.


CONCLUSIONS
Secondary prevention of CHD is far from optimal and there are gender differences in the care of CHD.
Kattainen
Anna
A
Department of Health and Functional Capacity, National Public Health Institute, Helsinki and Turku, Finland. anna.kattainen@ktl.fi
Salomaa
Veikko
V
Jula
Antti
A
Antero Kesäniemi
Y
Y
Kukkonen-Harjula
Katriina
K
Kähönen
Mika
M
Majahalme
Silja
S
Moilanen
Leena
L
Nieminen
Markku S
MS
Aromaa
Arpo
A
Reunanen
Antti
A
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents / Q000145:classification / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005387:Finland; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D015912:Thrombolytic Therapy
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents