Does health status differ between men and women in early recovery after myocardial infarction?
BACKGROUND
Although much attention has been given to survival after myocardial infarction (MI), little is known about sex differences in health status (symptoms, function, and quality of life). A particularly critical moment to assess health status following an MI is early after discharge when patients have resumed routine activities and when additional treatments may be offered to those with residual angina or quality of life limitations.


METHODS
We used multivariable Poisson and linear regression models to examine differences in 30-day health status by sex in a cohort of 2096 MI patients enrolled in a 19-center Prospective Registry Evaluating Myocardial Infarction: Events and Recovery (PREMIER).


RESULTS
Women (32% of the cohort) were older and less likely to be white, married, or treated with coronary revascularization. They were more likely to have had a non-ST segment elevation MI, diabetes, hypertension, heart failure, chronic lung disease, and worse health status at admission. Risk-adjusted multivariable models suggest women were slightly more likely to have angina (RR 1.06, 95% CI 1.0, 1.14, p = 0.06), worse quality of life (difference in SAQ score = -4.36 points, 95% CI -5.44, -3.27 points, p = <0.001) and poorer physical functioning (difference in SF-12 PCS = -2.55 points, 95%CI = -3.62, -1.48 points, p = <0.001) at 30 days than men.


CONCLUSIONS
One in four patients experienced angina 1 month after their MI, and women had a slightly greater prevalence than men. The physical function and quality of life of women 30 days after an MI is similar to or worse than that of men.
Garavalia
Linda S
LS
Mid America Heart Institute of Saint Luke's Hospital, Kansas City, Missouri., University of Missouri-Kansas City, Kansas City, Missouri.
Decker
Carole
C
Reid
Kimberly J
KJ
Lichtman
Judith H
JH
Parashar
Susmita
S
Vaccarino
Viola
V
Krumholz
Harlan M
HM
Spertus
John A
JA
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000787:Angina Pectoris / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D017678:Sex Distribution