Health: Women are 20% more likely to die within five years of their first heart attack

Women are 20 percent more likely to die in the first five years after their first heart attack than men, a study concluded.

Canadian researchers studied 45,064 Canadian patients who had been hospitalized after their first heart attack, monitoring each for about six years.

The team found that women received poorer treatment on average than men, with fewer surgeries performed, specialist consultations, and medications prescribed.

Women are 20 percent more likely to die in the first five years after their first heart attack than men, a study concluded. In the photo, a woman suffering from chest pains (stock image)

Heart attacks come in two forms: a life-threatening form called ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction, or STEMI, and a less severe version called non-STEMI, which is more common.

In their study, the team found that the development of heart failure after a STEMI or a non-STEMI – both in the hospital and after discharge – remains higher for women than for men.

Notably, women were 9.4% more likely to die in hospital following STEMI and 4.5% after non-STEMI, compared with 4.7% and 2.9%, respectively. , some men.

On average, women in the cohort studied were just over 10 years older than men – with an average age of 72, compared to 61 – and were more likely to have other health problems.

These included conditions such as atrial fibrillation, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes and hypertension.

Despite these growing health problems, only 72.8% of women have been seen by a cardiovascular specialist, compared to 84% of men.

“Identifying when and how women may be at increased risk for heart failure after a heart attack can help practitioners develop more effective prevention approaches,” said article author and cardiologist Justin Ezekowitz of the University of London. Alberta.

“Better adherence to lowering cholesterol, controlling high blood pressure, getting more exercise, eating a healthy diet and quitting smoking, combined with recognizing these problems early in life, would save thousands of lives.”

The same advice would also apply to men, he added.

“Close enough is not good enough. There are gaps in diagnosis, access, quality of care and follow-up for all patients, ”said cardiologist Padma Kaul of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.

“We need to be vigilant, pay attention to our own prejudices and to those that are most vulnerable to make sure we have done everything possible to provide the best treatment,” added Dr. Kaul.

The full results of the study were published in the journal Circulation.