Significant gender differences in heart disease

Women are less likely to suffer from heart failure than men

According to the current heart report, one in four Germans dies of heart disease. Even in heart failure sufferers have a high mortality risk. A new study showed that women are less likely than men to get it.

Gender differences in heart disease

Health experts have pointed out in the past that heart disease and heart attacks are often not recognized in women; among other things, because they can be symptomatic with them differently. Gender differences also exist in heart failure (heart failure). Women are less often affected than men, as a recent study now shows.

According to a new study women suffer less frequently from heart failure than men, in both sexes, the incidence increases from 60 years. Affected persons have a high mortality risk. (Image: Kzenon / fotolia.com)

Significant mortality risk

Women are less likely to suffer from heart failure than men, and both sexes have an incidence of more than 60 years and are associated with significant mortality.

Gender differences were found in some risk factors and biomarkers, with women each having a lower risk than men.

This is shown in a recent study by the BiomarCaRE consortium, which was presented at the 84th Annual Meeting of the German Society of Cardiology (DGK) in Mannheim.

"Whether gender-specific prevention strategies improve the prognosis must be investigated in further studies," Dr. Christiane Magnussen from the University Heart Center Hamburg, first author of the study, according to a statement.

Risk factors and biomarkers

The study included data from a total of more than 78,000 people from four European cohort studies of the BiomarCaRE consortium who had no heart failure at baseline.

The gender-specific incidence of heart failure and its association with mortality, as well as the association of risk factors and biomarkers with heart failure in men and women were analyzed.

During a mean follow-up of almost 13 years, fewer cases of heart failure were observed in women (5.9 percent) than in men (7.3 percent).

Significant differences between the sexes

"Women had a less pronounced cardiovascular risk profile than men and fewer cardiovascular diseases. The incidence of heart failure increased significantly in both sexes after the age of 60, with men initially experiencing a more rapid increase, which women did not catch up until age 85, "explains Drs. Magnussen.

"Incident heart failure was associated with an over 6-fold increased mortality risk."

Significant gender differences were found in the association of systolic blood pressure, heart rate, CRP (C-reactive protein) and Nt-proBNP (N-terminal pro-BNP), with women each having a lower risk of heart failure compared to men to develop.

"The classic cardiovascular risk factors account for around 60 percent of the risk in both genders," says the expert. (Ad)