A recent study highlighted by The Independent indicates that women have double the chances of dying after a heart attack compared to men.
The researchers emphasized the need for increased awareness regarding the risks of heart disease in women.
The study further revealed that women aged 55 years or younger had to endure a 15-minute longer wait for treatment upon reaching the hospital. Additionally, another study discovered that women who experienced a heart attack with a completely blocked coronary artery had a worse prognosis than men during their hospital stay.
Dr. Mariana Martinho, the study author, emphasized that women of all ages who suffer a heart attack are particularly at high risk of poor outcomes. She stressed the importance of regular monitoring, strict control of blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and diabetes, as well as referral to cardiac rehabilitation for these women. Encouraging healthy living, physical activity, and tackling rising smoking rates among young women were also emphasized.
The study compared short-term and long-term outcomes after ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) in both genders and examined apparent sex differences in premenopausal and postmenopausal women. The study involved 884 participants, with 27% being women and an average age of 62 years.
Results showed that women had higher rates of high blood pressure, diabetes, and prior stroke compared to men. Premenopausal women also experienced longer treatment delays upon hospital arrival.
After considering factors such as diabetes, high cholesterol, hypertension, coronary artery disease, heart failure, chronic kidney disease, peripheral artery disease, stroke, and family history of coronary artery disease, adverse outcomes were compared between genders. The study found that at 30 days, 11.8% of women had died compared to 4.6% of men. At five years, the figures increased to 32.1% of women and 16.9% of men, respectively. Women also experienced more major adverse cardiovascular events within five years compared to men.
