Gender related differences in patients presenting with acute heart failure. Results from EuroHeart Failure Survey II.
OBJECTIVE
This analysis evaluates the gender differences in patients hospitalised for acute heart failure (AHF) in the EuroHeart Failure Survey II (EHFS).


RESULTS
Of the 3580 patients included in EHFS II, 1384 (39%) were women, mean age 73 years. 2196 (61%) were men, mean age 68 years. Women more frequently had new-onset AHF, hypertension and valvular disease and less frequently coronary heart disease or dilated cardiomyopathy compared with men. Smoking, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, peripheral arterial disease and renal failure were less common, but diabetes and anaemia significantly more frequent in women. Atrial fibrillation and preserved left ventricular function were more common in women. Men were more often non-compliant with medication. After adjustment for indications and age, there were no significant gender differences in prescription of HF medication. All-cause readmission rate during the one-year follow-up was lower in women. However, the proportion of HF hospitalisation and one-year mortality after discharge (20%) were similar in both genders.


CONCLUSIONS
Women frequently present with new-onset AHF. A significant gender difference exists in aetiology, ventricular function and co-morbidities. Women's use of HF medication has improved. These findings emphasize the importance of individualised management and need for more comprehensive recruitment of women in clinical trials.
Nieminen
Markku S
MS
Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Finland. markku.nieminen@hus.fi
Harjola
Veli-Pekka
VP
Hochadel
Matthias
M
Drexler
Helmut
H
Komajda
Michel
M
Brutsaert
Dirk
D
Dickstein
Kenneth
K
Ponikowski
Piotr
P
Tavazzi
Luigi
L
Follath
Ferenc
F
Lopez-Sendon
Jose Luis
JL
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000453:epidemiology; D015897:Comorbidity; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012737:Sex Factors; D013318:Stroke Volume; D018754:Ventricular Dysfunction / Q000453:epidemiology