title: Gender inequality in acute coronary syndrome patients at Omdurman Teaching Hospital, Sudan.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Gender differences among patients with the acute coronary syndrome is still being debated, no research has been done on gender inequality among coronary syndrome patients in Sudan.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To study gender differences in presentation, management, and outcomes of acute coronary syndrome in Sudan.
  
  
  METHODS
  This cross-sectional descriptive longitudinal study was conducted in Omdurman Teaching Hospital between July 2014 and August 2015. Patients were invited to sign a written informed consent form, were interviewed and examined by a physician, and then followed during their hospital stay. Information collected includes coronary risk factors, vital signs, echocardiography findings, arrhythmias, heart failure, cardiogenic shock, and death. The Ethical Committee of Omdurman Teaching Hospital approved the research.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 197 consecutive acute coronary syndrome patients were included, 43.1% were females. A significant statistical difference was evident between males and females regarding the type of acute coronary syndrome, its presentation, and time of presentation to the hospital, smoking, and receipt of thrombolysis (P < 0.05). No differences were found with regard to age, hypertension, diabetes, family history of myocardial infarction, percutaneous coronary intervention, and in-hospital acute coronary complications (P > 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Women were less likely to receive thrombolytic therapy, present with chest pain, and diagnosed with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction. No gender differences were found in acute coronary syndrome risk factors apart from smoking, which was more common in males, and there were no differences between males and females as regards in-hospital complications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tabuk, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Hyder O
authors.initials: HO
authors.lastname: Mirghani
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tabuk, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Mohammed A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Elnour
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Omdurman Islamic University, Omdurman, Sudan.
authors.forename: Akasha M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Taha
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tabuk, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Abdulateef S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Elbadawi
keywords: Acute coronary syndrome; Sudan; gender; inequality