GENDER DIFFERENCES IN PRESENTATION OF ACUTE MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the gender differences in the Presentation of Acute Myocardial Infarction. Design: Observational study. Setting: National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases - Karachi, study was carried outfrom 1st Sept. 2006 to 31st December 2006. Method: Consecutive 1008 patients were included in this study with definite evidence of first episode of AMI. Results: There were 758 (75.1%) men and 250 (24.8%) women. Women were on average 7 years older than the men (58 vs 51 years, p=<0.01). 13% of female patients were menstruating while 87% were nonmenstruating. 9.3% of our patients were under the age of 40 years. 13% of women and 9% of men were obese. Women more frequently had hypertension (67% vs 37%, p=<0.001), DM (38% vs 22%, p=<0.001). More of the men were cigarette smokers (60% vs 8%, p = <0.001). Women had more in-hospital complications (38% vs 25%, p= <0.01), and mortality (13.4% vs 5.5%, p = <0.001). Women were less likely than men to be eligible for thrombolytic therapy (54% vs 77%). Conclusion: These results indicates that women were 6 years older than men presented with AMI and more likely to have hypertension, DM and Pre-infarction angina. The in-hospital complication and mortality were higher in female patients than male. Less women were elegible for thrombolytic theropy on arrival compared to men.