title: Gender difference in coronary events in relation to risk factors in Japanese hypercholesterolemic patients treated with low-dose simvastatin.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Gender differences between the risk factors for coronary heart disease and coronary events were examined in the Japan Lipid Intervention Trial, a 6-year observational study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Men (12,575) and women (27,013) were analyzed for risk of coronary events (acute myocardial infarction and sudden cardiac death). Simvastatin reduced serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) by 27% in both genders, and increased serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) in men (5%) and women (4%). The incidence of coronary events was lower in women (0.64/1,000 patient-years) than in men (1.57/1,000 patient-years). The risk of coronary events increased by 18% in men and 21% in women with each 10 mg/dl elevation of LDL-C, and decreased by 39% in men and 33% in women with each 10 mg/dl elevation of HDL-C. The risk increased proportionally with aging in women, but not in men. Diabetes mellitus (DM) was more strongly related to the risk of coronary events for women (relative risk 3.07) than for men (relative risk 1.58).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The incidence of coronary events is lower in women. Serum LDL-C is related to an increased risk of coronary events to the same extent in both genders. DM seems to be a more important risk factor in women, trading off the lower risk of coronary events among them.
authors.affiliation: International University of Health and Welfare Graduate School of Clinical Trial Management, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sasaki
authors.forename: Toru
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kita
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mabuchi
authors.forename: Masunori
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Matsuzaki
authors.forename: Yuji
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Matsuzawa
authors.forename: Noriaki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nakaya
authors.forename: Shinichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Oikawa
authors.forename: Yasushi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Saito
authors.forename: Kazuaki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shimamoto
authors.forename: Suminori
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kono
authors.forename: Hiroshige
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Itakura
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D044466:Asian People; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood*; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D003643:Death; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D019821:Simvastatin / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D019821:Simvastatin