ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To determine gender differences in diagnostic workup and treatment of patients with heart failure. DESIGN: Retrospective. METHOD: The data of 8914 patients (of whom 4166 women; 47%) with confirmed heart failure, who participated in the Euro Heart Survey on Heart Failure (EHS-HF) were analysed. RESULTS: On average, the women in the study were older than the men (75 versus 68 years) and less often suffered from a coronary heart disease (56 versus 66%). Women were more likely to have hypertension (59 versus 49%), diabetes mellitus (29 versus 26%), or valvular heart disease (42 versus 36%). Fewer women had an ultrasonographic evaluation of ventricular function (59 versus 74%) and, among those investigated, fewer had left ventricular systolic dysfunction (44 versus 72%). These observed results remained stable after adjustment for age and other possible confounding variables. Medication with a documented positive impact on survival, i.e. angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, beta-blocking drugs and the diuretic spironolactone, was prescribed less often to women than men. Women, however, received symptomatic medication such as other diuretics and digoxin more often than men. CONCLUSION: Men and women with heart failure differed with respect to a number of relevant clinical characteristics. Clinicians should take good note of this and take measures to prevent differences in patient care.
