title: Gender differences in the assessment and treatment of myocardial infarction.
abstract: Previous studies have shown that there are gender-related differences in the assessment and treatment of myocardial infarction, despite international guidelines that prescribe identical treatment for women and men. We investigated whether these differences occurred in Norway.
  
  
  
  All patients admitted to Norwegian hospitals with myocardial infarction from 1 January 2013 to 31 December 2014 and registered in the Norwegian Myocardial Infarction Registry were included. Data from the registry were used to analyse differences in the assessment, treatment, complications and survival of women and men in different age groups.
  
  
  
  A total of 26 447 myocardial infarctions were registered in the Norwegian Myocardial Infarction Registry in the period 2013 – 2014. Fewer women than men were assessed by means of coronary angiography. Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) was used to virtually the same extent for both genders if coronary stenosis was found. Women were recommended secondary prophylactic medication to a lesser extent than men. There were no major differences between men and women in the incidence of complications in the course following myocardial infarction or in survival.
  
  
  
  Fewer women than men suffering acute myocardial infarction were assessed by means of coronary angiography, and women were recommended secondary prophylactic medication less often than men. The reason for the gender differences is not known, but comorbidity and a potentially greater risk of adverse reactions in women may be contributory factors. The different views of doctors providing treatment may also play a part.
authors.affiliation: Medisinsk avdeling Sørlandet sykehus, Arendal.
authors.forename: Jarle
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jortveit
authors.affiliation: Norsk hjerteinfarktregister St. Olavs hospital.
authors.forename: Ragna Elise Støre
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Govatsmark
authors.affiliation: Hjerteavdelingen Haukeland universitetssykehus.
authors.forename: Jørund
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Langørgen
authors.affiliation: Klinikk for medisin Helse Møre og Romsdal.
authors.forename: Torstein
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hole
authors.affiliation: Hjertemedisinsk avdeling Universitetssykehuset Nord-Norge.
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mannsverk
authors.affiliation: Medisinsk klinikk Universitetssykehuset Nord-Norge, Harstad.
authors.forename: Siv
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Olsen
authors.affiliation: Kardiologisk avdeling Oslo universitetssykehus, Rikshospitalet.
authors.forename: Cecilie
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Risøe
authors.affiliation: Oslo universitetssykehus, Ullevål og Universitetet i Oslo.
authors.forename: Sigrun
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Halvorsen
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017023:Coronary Angiography / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D054625:Healthcare Disparities; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy; D009664:Norway; D062645:Percutaneous Coronary Intervention / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012042:Registries; D055502:Secondary Prevention / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012737:Sex Factors; D063507:Sexism; D015996:Survival Rate; D013997:Time Factors