Study of Gender-based In-Hospital Mortality Difference in Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction

Abstract

Abstract:Background: In-hospital mortality in female patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and factors affecting this may be different from those of their male counterpart. The aim of the current study was to compare the in-hospital mortality between female and male patients with AMI and to compare the differences in age, risk factors, treatment given and complications between them. Methods: Total 200 nonrandomised patients with a definite diagnosis of AMI admittedover a period of one year (January 2008 -December 2008) were enrolled in the study, in which 100 female patients were considered as cases and 100 male patients as controls. Both groups were studied prospectively.Datawere collected in prefixed questionnaire and data sheet and were analysed using SPSS software.Results: mean age of the female patients was significantly higher than that of their male counterpart (57.0±10.1 years and 53.3±10.3 years respectively, p=0.029). Diabetes mellitus and hyperlipidemia were significantly higher in females than those in males (39% vs 24%, p=0.022 and 45% vs 32%, p=0.040 respectively), while smoking was staggeringly higher among the males (59%) compared to the females (4%) (p<0.001).However, no significant difference was observed between the groups in terms of hypertension (p=0.666).Pre-hospital delay (more than 12 hours after onset of chest pain) was significantly higher in the female group than that in the male group (72% vs 58%,p=0.038). Streptokinase was significantly underused in females (15.6%) compared to that used in males (32.2%) (p=0.011). The use of b-receptor blockerswas also significantly less in females than that in males (63% vs 75%, p=0.046).Death was significantly higher in the females (21%) than that in the males (10%) (p=0.032). Unstable angina, re-infarction and congestive heart failure were somewhat higher in the female subjects compared to their male counterparts (40% vs 34%, 2% vs 1% and 32% vs 23% respectively) though the differences did not seem significant (p=0.380, p=0.561 and p=0.154 respectively). Arrhythmias did not differ significantly between the groups (p 1 >0.05).Conclusion: Female patients with AMI had significantly higher in-hospital mortality. Early hospitalization and optimal treatment are crucial to decrease mortality in female patients.