title: Sexual dimorphism in socioeconomic differences regarding the risk factors, symptomatology and management of patients with stable coronary artery disease in Poland.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Relationships between socioeconomic status (SES) and the risk factors, applied treatment and outcomes of patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) have been demonstrated in Western European countries, however analogous evidence is missing from Eastern and Central European countries. The aim of the study was to investigate SES gradients regarding the risk factors, symptoms and management of patients with stable CAD in Poland, separately in men and women.
  
  
  METHODS
  We analyzed the data of 2,593 participants of the RECENT study. SES was assessed based on the level of education attainment: university, secondary school or primary school.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Socioeconomic differences in risk profile were most markedly seen in women: lower the education, higher body mass index (p < 0.01), systolic and diastolic blood pressure (p < 0.05), resting heart rate (p < 0.01), and greater prevalence of heart failure (p < 0.05) and dyslipidemia (p < 0.05). Importantly, smoking habit was the most frequent in women who graduated from univer-sity (p < 0.01). In men, socioeconomic gradients were only seen within resting heart rate (p < 0.01), LDL cholesterol level (p < 0.05) and smoking habit (p < 0.05). In both genders, better education was associated with less severe symptoms of angina and more frequent use of statins (p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SES stratified based on education level differentiates patients with stable CAD in Poland regarding their risk profile, symptom control and the use of statins. Sexual dimorphism is found mainly within SES gradients regarding the prevalence of risk factors.
authors: Department of Cardiology, Center for Heart Diseases, 4th Military Hospital, Wroclaw, Poland Department of Heart Diseases, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland. stanislaw.tubek@gmail.com.
authors: Stanislaw
authors: S
authors: Tubek
authors: Michal
authors: M
authors: Stepkowski
authors: Agata
authors: A
authors: Szczurowska
authors: Monika
authors: M
authors: Storek
authors: Anna
authors: A
authors: Rzasa
authors: Monika
authors: M
authors: Matyjaszczyk
authors: Robert
authors: R
authors: Pociupany
authors: Arleta
authors: A
authors: Wilkins
authors: Waldemar
authors: W
authors: Banasiak
authors: Piotr
authors: P
authors: Ponikowski
authors: Ewa A
authors: EA
authors: Jankowska
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001794:Blood Pressure; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D050171:Dyslipidemias / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D054625:Healthcare Disparities; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011044:Poland / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000453:epidemiology; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors
keywords: risk factors; sexual differences; socioeconomic status; stable coronary artery disease; symptom control; treatment