Gender differences in the implementation of cardiovascular prevention measures after an acute coronary event.
OBJECTIVE
To compare gender-related lifestyle changes and risk factor management after hospitalisation for a coronary event or revascularisation intervention in Europe.


METHODS
The EUROASPIRE III survey was carried out in 22 European countries in 2006-2007. Consecutive patients having had a coronary event or revascularisation before the age of 80 were identified. A total of 8966 patients (25.3% women) were interviewed and underwent clinical and biochemical tests at least 6 months after hospital admission. Trends in cardiovascular risk management were assessed on the basis of the 1994-1995, 1999-2000 and 2006-2007 EUROASPIRE surveys.


RESULTS
Female survey participants were generally older and had a lower educational level than male participants (p<0.0001). The prevalences of obesity (p<0.0001), high blood pressure (BP) (p=0.001), elevated low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol (p<0.0001) and diabetes (p<0.0001) were significantly higher in women than in men, whereas current smoking (p<0.0001) was significantly more common in men. The use of antihypertensive and antidiabetic drugs (but not that of other drugs) was more common in women than in men. However, BP (p<0.0001), LDL-cholesterol (p<0.0001) and HbA1c (p<0.0001) targets were less often achieved in women than in men. Between 1994 and 2007, cholesterol control improved less in women than in men (interaction: p=0.009), whereas trends in BP control (p=0.32) and glycaemia (p=0.36) were similar for both genders.


CONCLUSIONS
The EUROASPIRE III results show that despite similarities in medication exposure, women are less likely than men to achieve BP, LDL-cholesterol and HbA1c targets after a coronary event. This gap did not appear to narrow between 1994 and 2007.
Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, INSERM U744, Institut Pasteur de Lille, 1 rue du Pr Calmette, 59019 Lille, France. jean.dallongeville@pasteur-lille.fr
Jean
J
Dallongevillle
Dirk
D
De Bacquer
Jan
J
Heidrich
Guy
G
De Backer
Christoph
C
Prugger
Kornelia
K
Kotseva
Michèle
M
Montaye
Philippe
P
Amouyel
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D002317:Cardiovascular Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D048909:Diabetes Complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D004522:Educational Status; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult
D002317:Cardiovascular Agents