The Role of Gender in Heart Diseases

Gender and Heart

Abstract

Aim: In our study, we aimed to investigate the course and frequency of cardiovascular diseases in female and men and whether there is a change in their cardiac functions in the follow-up of these patients.
Material and Method: The files of the patients who applied to the cardiology outpatient clinic of our hospital due to various heart conditions were analyzed retrospectively, the patients’ coronary angiography, heart surgeries, first and follow-up echocardiographic findings were compared to between two groups as male and female.
Results: Two hundred and seventy female (mean age 63.8 years) and 271 male (mean age 62.4 years) patients were included in the study. The rate of coronary artery disease (CAD), heart failure, degenerative mitral valve disease (MVD) and serum creatinine levels were higher in men (p<0.05). There was no dif-ference between the two groups in terms of diabetes mellitus, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, dialysis treatment, cerebrovascular diseases, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, and pacemaker implantation (p>0.05). Hypertension, rheumatic MVD, Takotusbo Cardiomyopathy were more common in female than in man (p<0.05). In the clinical course of both female and men, a significant decrease in left ventricle ejection fraction (LVEF) and a significant increase in systolic pulmonary artery pressure (SPAP) were observed (p<0.001). The age was found an independent risk factor for both genders (p<0.05).
Conclusion: CAD, degenerative MVD and heart failure were higher in men, rheumatic MVD and Tako-tsubo cardiomyopathy were higher in female. LVEF was relatively protected in female, but follow-up both genders it was observed that LVEF significant decreased and SPAP increased.
Key words: heart disease, gender, echocardiography